Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 123 Intelligence Second Update_1

Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Intelligence Second Update_1

With the guarantee, the local government granary student also became an acknowledged guarantor, assuring that the examinee would not impersonate another, substitute someone else, or use a false name, guaranteeing a clean family background. Zhou Shuren and the Clan Leader went to the home of the local government granary student together, bringing not only tea and cloth bought from Jiangnan but also two silver taels as gifts, which were quite generous.

Zhou Shuren came back that same day and said that many people visited the candidate’s family to request a guarantee.

Zhulan quietly calculated the benefits: the top government granary student in the imperial examination could receive monthly grain and four silver taels a year, plus twenty acres of land exempted from taxation—a considerable amount of silver. If a family didn’t have enough land, people would seek to register theirs, providing grain as compensation each year. One could live the year without spending on food and drink, not to mention the profit to be made from the guarantees.

Indeed, it proved that academic achievers, whether in ancient or modern times, could make money!

Before they knew it, Er Yue had arrived. Zhulan had pasted a countdown on the bedroom wall, and the first thing she did each morning after waking up was to change the number; only then would she go about her business, looking at Zhou Shuren in dissatisfaction, "Your exams have me so nervous, it’s like going back to the days of the college entrance exam sprint. And yet, here you are, not the least bit nervous, even though the day after tomorrow is the exam and you’re not even looking at your books."

Zhou Shuren chuckled, "I’ve read all I should have read, memorized all I should have memorized, there’s nothing to be nervous about. Don’t worry about it anymore."

As she put on her shoes, Zhulan replied, "How can I not worry? This concerns our future. If this were modern times, I could support the family on my own, but in ancient times, that’s not possible. You and the children in the family need to pass the civil service exams, which completely limits me. No matter how impressive my specialty is, or how high my position was, it doesn’t matter here. I can’t do business or show my face in public, and all the pressure falls on you. That’s why I’m nervous—I can’t help."

Frankly speaking, the modern Zhulan had always relied on herself since she was young. She shouldered everything she could, and even things she couldn’t, she still took on by herself, preferring self-reliance. Now in ancient times, restricted and trying to trust Zhou Shuren bit by bit, she might appear trusting on the outside, but deep down, she still lacked some of the confidence that comes from self-reliance.

If women in ancient times could take the civil service exams, even if the classical Chinese was difficult, she would have stepped into the fray herself.

Zhou Shuren took Zhulan’s hand. He had long noticed Zhulan’s nervousness and knew that she didn’t fully trust him. This was a characteristic cultivated from childhood; Zhulan trusted herself more. And he was no different. If roles were reversed, he might not have done better than Zhulan. "Trust me, I won’t let you down."

Zhulan stared blankly at her hands held in his. Zhou Shuren’s palms were warm, and the warmth slowly spread, settling her heart. She inwardly mocked herself for seeming strong and well-adapted when even with her good disguise, the shift in identity still unsettled her, "Yes."

Zhou Shuren’s eyes curved into a smile, and with a gentle pull, he embraced Zhulan in his arms. His upbringing as an orphan, keen to read people and seize opportunities from a young age, and his years spent climbing the social ladder from the bottom to achieve his modern success, had crafted him into a person of depth and cunning. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risen so quickly at a young age.

Zhulan was different. With a simple upbringing and favorable circumstances, despite her capable nature, she still had much to learn about interpersonal relationships, which she learned from him. What was smarter about Zhulan was that, in the unfamiliar ancient world, not knowing the rules for survival there, she always sought his opinion and never acted arrogantly or rashly, being careful and cautious until she fully understood the rules of the ancient world.

Even though the ancient era constrained her, Zhulan never complained and always strove to adapt. How could such a Zhulan not captivate him and make him want to hold on tight?

Zhulan went completely stiff, and after coming back to her senses, she grumbled, "Your audacity is getting bigger."