After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Old Han looked slightly bewildered.

After pondering for a while, he sighed and said, "His temperament is too upright. As soon as he passed the imperial examination, he couldn't wait to submit a memorial to the emperor, saying that His Majesty should be close to virtuous ministers and keep away from sycophants, and that if Southern Liang continued down this path, it would surely perish and the world would be destroyed... These words offended Qin, the chief minister who was then the Left Censor-in-Chief. He was dismissed and stripped of his official rank, and would never be employed again."

Hmm... It seems that Prime Minister Qin is the villain the other party considers him to be... Ning Nan nodded in understanding.

"Heh," Old Monster Han chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Nearly twenty years have passed. Chief Minister Qin sits firmly in court. Although Southern Liang still controls half the country, at least the state is stable. His words can only be spoken to the Mountain Ghost." The old monster shook his head with a smile, no longer lamenting, and continued:

"You don't need to worry about being resented by the Grand Secretary's faction for studying under him. That's not true at all."

"Over the years, he has taught many scholars, more than ten provincial graduates, and even a few imperial examination graduates, all of whom have had smooth careers. Chief Minister Qin doesn't hate him that much, and he's so busy with official duties that he probably doesn't even remember him."

Ning Nan nodded immediately, then slowly exhaled, feeling much more relaxed.

Having received a letter of recommendation and been introduced to a teacher who could provide private tutoring, Ning Nan felt that her chances of passing the imperial examination this time were even greater.

He wanted to pass the imperial examination on his first try.

You must at least pass the imperial examination to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations).

After all, the imperial examination was also known as the "special examination".

"En" refers to the emperor's favor.

Every time His Majesty the Emperor holds an imperial examination, he is bestowing a favor upon all scholars in the land; this does not happen every year.

The imperial examinations are held every three years, and last year Emperor Tianqi held a special examination.

This time, because Prince Xin was about to ascend the throne, another special imperial examination was held in order to appease the scholars of the land.

If I only pass the lowest level (xiucai) this time, or even fail to pass the lowest level (xiucai), then the next imperial examination will be at least three years away.

It's even possible that because this imperial examination was held so hastily, with only a year between the last one and the last one, His Majesty decided to hold another special examination five years later to make up for the two years that were missed... This is not an impossible possibility.

After all, there are only so many official positions in the world.

One radish per hole, so the imperial examinations would inevitably be controlled over time.

Old Han stood up. He said he was leaving tomorrow and there was no need for a farewell... because the time was up to the coachman from Bailu Academy; he would leave whenever the coachman came.

It would be rather awkward if someone came to see you off but didn't leave until the evening or the day after.

Ning Nan laughed and said, "You old monster, you've really thought of everything."

After strolling around Lijiacun Primary School for a while and exchanging a few more words with Principal Li Xing, Ning Nan hummed a little tune and went home.

Behind the Ning family's courtyard, Uncle Fu was leading a group of people to expand the yard.

A lot of bricks were brought into the yard and stacked neatly, but the yard also became dusty.

But this is clear evidence that the family is moving in a positive direction. No matter how much dust and hard work there is, everyone in the family can endure it and is happy to do so.

The main beams of the east wing rooms have been erected, but there's still work to be done; the walls still need to be built.

Uncle Fu does everything personally, so he is quite at ease with him.

However, he and his wife, Cui Cui, did not plan to stay until the house was finished, because it would take at least another month to build.

They plan to leave in a few days.

Cui Cui's wife was going to work as a clerk in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, while he was going to find that private tutor in the city so he could prepare for the imperial examination in peace.

My mother and two maids are busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Cui Cui's wife had gone to the kitchen to help, but her mother pressed her back, saying, "What if you're pregnant?" Her mother stared at her wife's flat belly and comforted her, saying that she should rest well recently.

So she leisurely read some books in the room.

Ning Nan pulled up a chair and sat down next to Cui Cui's wife, but Cui Cui's wife didn't even look at her. Her oval face showed a serene expression as she quietly read her book. But when Ning Nan leaned closer, she didn't move away. Her pink lips pursed slightly, and she softly hummed in agreement... Ning Nan stared at her profile for a moment, and then suddenly felt like she was going to plow the fields.

The next few days.

Er Lai's situation is progressing well; he's taken in two servants, two seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys who look honest and simple. He's taking them to live at Li Family Village Elementary School.

"Don't worry, big brother. I won't take any of the slippery, treacherous, or belligerent ones." Er Lai said with a smirk, bringing his two underlings over for Ning Nan to inspect.

"Hmm." Ning Nan nodded in satisfaction.

Erlai knows what's important.

Even when the imperial court recruited soldiers, it was only men from good families.

Those thugs and hooligans who usually fight and act viciously are all just for show. When a battle breaks out and the thieves come with knives, they either kneel down or run away.

On the contrary, it was the honest and kind-hearted men who had the courage to stay and unleash their pent-up courage.

The two servants knew that the young master in front of them was the master of the house, and immediately knelt down to kowtow.

But Ning Nan woke him up, laughing and saying that there was no need to kowtow or kneel, neither now nor in the future.

However, while we should respect the rules, we still need to get things done.

Day two.

Ning Nan, acting as the host, summoned their parents, gave each family ten taels of silver, and had them sign a death contract and affix their seals.

Ning Nan had said in advance that those unwilling to sign a binding contract would not be accepted, and both households were prepared, with a hint of joy on their faces.

Both children came from families that had suffered hardship, but because they had other brothers to carry on the family line, they were relatively less important.

That's equivalent to selling oneself into slavery.

Actually... this is already considered a good way out, after all, there are quite a few people who go to the palace to become eunuchs.

all in all.

From this moment on, their lives and futures are inextricably linked to Ning Nan's hands. If Ning Nan dies, even if they betray him, they will have nowhere to go and will also die.

The second interviewer is the initial interviewer, and I am the final interviewer. Only after I nod in agreement can I sign the contract... That's the general process.

It will be the same in the future.

When Erlai recruits new servants, he first signs them temporary contracts and uses them for a while to observe them. Once he is confident in their abilities, he sends a message to Erlai, who then returns to sign permanent contracts with the new servants. "Better to have none than to have bad ones" is Ningnan's order to Erlai.

Scientific composting is also progressing well.

Erlai found three tenant farmers to conduct a pilot program, but at first no one was willing to mess around with it.

Ning Nan then said that those who were willing to use this method would have their rent reduced by 10%. Immediately, the tenants flocked to it, and Ning Nan selected three tenant households that had both elderly farmers and young people around twenty years old.

His method is not comprehensive; he needs an experienced farmer to steer the ship and summarize more practical experience.

But the old farmer doesn't like taking risks, so the young man's drive is needed. A family combination of an old man and a young man, plus Erlai's supervision and record-keeping, is about right.

Li Xing's side is also making good progress; all the children in the village who are not yet grown up have come... But there are too many of them, and Ning Nan is worried that the money will not be enough to support the primary school, which will soon be bankrupt and cannot be sustained.

Therefore, each household was limited to sending only one child, and the age was restricted to seven to nine years old.

After all, Principal Li Xing is only twelve years old; he can't control children who are too old.

They're too young; you can't teach them anyway. They need to be at least seven years old.

With these restrictions on the number of children and their ages, only about ten children were enrolled. Several families were asked to take turns cooking for the children, which barely kept the school afloat. As for when these children would be able to generate productivity... well... that depends on how much the scientific composting method can be implemented in the pilot program.

If production increases well, we can try opening larger night schools for teenagers or even adults. After all, with surplus food at home, people will be more inclined to learn more characters.

Time passed day by day.

On July 10th, Ning Nan packed his things and, together with San Zhuang, carried them onto the carriage.

He planned to take his wife, Cui Cui, and San Zhuang, the head of his household guards, to Nanjing.

A light mist enveloped the Ning family's courtyard in the early morning.

As the mist drifted by, Ning Nan, worried that Cui Cui's wife might catch a cold, told her to put a blanket on her in the carriage.

Next to the carriage.

A tall, beautiful white horse was snorting.

"The mansion that Master Zhu bought for you is on Datong Street, right next to the Prince Xin's Mansion."

As Qin Yuanyao rode her sturdy white horse, she coldly told Ning Nan the location of the mansion.

"Xinwangfu?"

Ning Nan, holding a horsewhip, sat on the carriage seat and thought he had misheard. His eyes widened in surprise.

Qin Yuanyao nodded again: "Yes, it's the Prince Xin's Mansion..." Her voice was flat.

Damn... I'll be neighbors with Prince Xin... Ning Nan felt a chill run down his spine, and swallowed hard.

The cool morning mist dampened his cheeks, and he couldn't help but gasp.