Chapter 52: Chapter 52

"San... Sanwa is still so young, hasn't even studied for many years. Can he really do it?"

Despite his words, Xie the Third's gaze remained fixed on his daughter's face. After a day of farm work, his previously numb eyes now shone with startling intensity. So focused was he that he didn't even notice the unfinished bamboo winnowing basket's sharp splinter piercing his palm.

Understanding her father's excitement, An Ning simply smiled and put down the test paper in her hand: "Father, whether it works or not, we have to try. It's perfect timing since Cheng Uncle's son Stone is also taking the exam this year - he can keep little brother company."

Most importantly, Cheng Uncle had been in the county town for so long that he must have some connections. Catching this ride would make many things much easier.

"Yes, we must try... must try!"

What if he actually succeeds!

Of course, Xie the Third didn't dare voice that last thought aloud.

Yet even so, he couldn't continue his work. For the rest of the day, he wandered about in a daze. An Ning, having casually dropped this bombshell, calmly returned to her room to study poetry as if nothing had happened.

"What, taking the exams?" Aunt Xie nearly dropped her sewing needle, immediately exclaiming: "Sanwa has only studied for a few years! How can he take exams already?"

Don't waste the family's money.

Of course, she didn't dare say that last part out loud, but her expression clearly showed her disbelief.

The imperial examinations weren't so easy to pass. Just look at old Xu who taught in their village - he was nearly twenty before barely passing the child scholar exam. The earlier Scholar Lu was more impressive, but even he was thirteen or fourteen when he passed. And he had studied at the county school! How old is Sanwa? He's never attended proper classes a day in his life.

No matter how smart Siya is, can she really compare to proper teachers outside?

Thinking this, Aunt Xie forced a smile and said: "Father, Sanwa is too young. Maybe we should wait a bit longer."

Unexpectedly, Grandfather Xie didn't even glance her way, just looked eagerly at An Ning and took a deep drag from his pipe.

Finally, he declared in a deep voice: "Since Siya thinks it's possible, let Sanwa try."

Then his gaze swept over Xie the Eldest and others: "Sanwa taking the exams is a major event for our family. You uncles can't just stand by and watch."

"Father, don't worry. I've saved a few taels of silver - I'll give them to Sanwa later. For the exams, he'll need proper clothes and better writing materials."

Before Grandfather Xie could finish, Fourth Uncle Xie immediately pledged enthusiastically.

It wasn't that he particularly believed in Sanwa, but over these years, Fourth Uncle had seen clearly just how intelligent his niece was. If Siya said it was possible, there must be some chance.

As for Sanwa not having a proper teacher?

Fourth Uncle scoffed inwardly. Unlike his foolish sister-in-law with her shallow vision, if Siya wasn't more capable than Scholar Xu, would Xie Youcheng have been so attentive all these years?

He was already twenty. If by some miracle Sanwa passed, maybe marrying a city girl wouldn't just be a dream.

As for the money spent - as the family's most favored son, he didn't believe his mother would let him suffer losses.

Following Fourth Uncle's lead, Eldest Uncle also produced a tael of silver, and even the notoriously stingy Second Uncle gave half his secret savings.

Though not much, it showed their stance.

Truthfully, An Ning had enough money for the exams, but she didn't stop her uncles from contributing.

As Grandfather Xie said, if her younger brother passed, the entire Xie family would benefit. Even a child scholar held some status in the countryside.

In this era, family bonds weren't as thin as in modern times. If one succeeded, they were expected to help lift up their relatives.

Since these relationships would exist regardless, wasn't it better to collect some interest in advance?

They couldn't just do nothing and expect to benefit later!

However... An Ning glanced up at Grandfather Xie sitting solemnly at the head, his stern face showing satisfaction.

By doing this, the old man probably wanted to ensure that if her brother succeeded, he wouldn't forget his uncles.

In any case, apart from the grumbling Aunt Xie, the Xie household was unusually harmonious that night.

Early February still carried a chill in the air. Xie Sanwa - no, now properly called Xie Yan - had packed his belongings and, under the eager gazes of his family, boarded the oxcart to the county town with Xie the Third.

The ten-year-old boy wasn't particularly tall, barely reaching an adult's chest. Yet dressed in his blue scholar's robe, he stood out strikingly in the crowd, already showing hints of scholarly elegance.

Especially when standing beside his cousins Xie Dawa and Xie Erwa - one could hardly believe they came from the same family.

It was even harder to imagine that just four or five years ago, he'd been a snot-nosed kid much like Erwa.

Without this comparison before, seeing it now made Aunt Xie's eyes redden.

"Educated people are different," thought every Xie family member present.

It was also because of Xie Sanwa's transformation that An Ning hadn't needed to hide her own behavioral changes over the years. Since the changes came gradually, no one found them suspicious.

For a smart, educated girl like Siya, not changing would be strange.

Time passed slowly as the family waited anxiously.

By mid-to-late February when the county exam results were posted, as expected, both Xie Yan and Xie Jue (Chubby Boy) appeared on the list.

"Siya, you're amazing!"

Before the group could even properly celebrate upon entering the gate, Chubby Boy rushed over excitedly to An Ning:

"Siya, you wouldn't believe it - out of five scripture tests and four poems, more than half were from the key points you marked!"

Xie Sanwa behind him nodded vigorously, looking at his fourth sister with worship.

He'd always known his sister was remarkable, but from this moment on, Xie Sanwa declared his fourth sister nothing short of divine.

Too powerful! Scholar Xu at the school had also predicted some key points, but his accuracy wasn't even half of his sister's - he hadn't gotten a single one right.

"Alright, remember not to say such things in the future," An Ning coughed lightly, cutting off their excited chatter as she noticed the gathering crowd outside the courtyard.

Truthfully, she wasn't surprised by this result. In her past life, she'd been a proper teacher for a lifetime, even serving as a judge and question-setter for international competitions.

Though the subjects differed, her sensitivity to exam points remained. Especially with the Intelligence-Enhancing Pill in this life - if Xie Sanwa couldn't pass even with these advantages, to put it bluntly, he might as well give up on advancement.

Well, at least for now, this little seedling could still be nurtured.