Chapter 33: Taking the Initiative to Become a Concubine

Upon hearing a knock on the door, Liu Fuzi coughed lightly. “Come in.”

Shen Xiuyan pushed the door open and walked in. “Master, I’ve taken the top spot.”

“I already know.”

Liu Fuzi nodded calmly. After all, being a Xiucai wasn’t something to get excited about, even if it was the top spot.

But fortunately, Shen Xiuyan wasn’t here to boast. He sat down cross-legged across from Liu Fuzi, sighing heavily.

“The imperial examination is really tough. I’ve used all my strength just to get this top spot. I guess it’s mostly luck this time.”

Liu Fuzi: “……”

Where did this fool come from? How many people will this frustrate?

You’ve already come in first place. What more do you want?

Do you think using all your strength guarantees you the top spot?

Don’t you see there are other positions above you that you could aim for?

Liu Fuzi couldn’t help but question Shen Xiuyan’s intelligence for a moment.

But it was a relief, he thought. Now he could relax again.

Liu Fuzi smiled thinly, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just so you know, a county’s top scorer isn’t much. There are hundreds of counties in our country, with countless talented people. You’re just at the bottom of that pool, so keep studying diligently and never slack off. Understood? You’ve been lucky this time, but that luck might not always be with you.”

“I understand. That’s what I think too.” Shen Xiuyan nodded obediently.

Liu Fuzi was satisfied, then showed a sly smile, like an old fox. “Just so happens that I’ve asked a friend for some ancient books. Since you’re here, you can take them back and memorize them.”

Shen Xiuyan: “……”

He had just seen the results.

He was the top scorer!

Couldn’t they let him rest for a couple of days?

If he had known, he wouldn’t have come.

He didn’t want to stay in the room any longer. He grabbed the books and ran off, fearing Liu Fuzi would remember more books for him to memorize if he stayed too long.

Shen Family Village.

A messenger from the government came to deliver the good news, and soon, several villagers followed behind him to see the commotion.

As soon as the messenger entered the Shen Family, someone gasped, “No way, Shen Xiuyan passed the Xiucai exam?!”

“Of course it’s true! Didn’t you see the messenger came to deliver the good news?”

“Oh my God, our village is going to be famous!”

“The first Xiucai in a hundred years!!”

When Zhou Shi heard the messenger’s good news, she was so excited she dropped the bowl in her hands.

After realizing it, she quickly took out silver coins and shoved them into the messenger’s hands.

“Thank you, thank you. May you also share in the good fortune.”

“Then I won’t be polite.”

The messenger weighed the silver coins in his hand, smiling so widely his eyes disappeared. This family was quite generous, no wonder he managed to get the top spot.

After the messenger left, the villagers, like bees to honey, quickly gathered.

Once they found out Shen Xiuyan had really passed the Xiucai exam, many families began to reconsider their plans.

The wealthiest family in the village, the Jiang family, was the first to approach Zhou Shi.

The Jiang family woman said, “Sister Zhou, since Xiuyan is back, let him come to my house for a meal. I’ll treat him.”

“Huh? This isn’t good, is it?” Zhou Shi was confused. The two families weren’t that close. Why would she suddenly want to invite them for a meal?

The Jiang family woman smiled and winked, implying, “My youngest daughter is sixteen this year and still unmarried. You’ve seen how beautiful she is. How about…”

Zhou Shi was shocked. So they were interested in Xiuyan!

Zhou Shi, who had never dealt with such matters before, was overjoyed. After all, her son had previously been a failed Tong Sheng who had never passed the Xiucai exam, so no family had ever approached her to discuss marriage.

If he hadn’t passed, what would have happened? Would the daughter have to suffer her whole life?

So even though Shen Xiuyan was handsome, no one had ever come to talk about marriage before.

But now that he had passed the Xiucai exam, people were coming to their door, and from the richest family in the village at that! How could Zhou Shi not be happy?

If this had been before, she would have agreed immediately. The Jiang family was wealthy, and their youngest daughter, spoiled and well-loved, was beautiful. She and Xiuyan would make a perfect match.

But now, things were different. Her son had told her that he had someone he liked.

Although she didn’t know who, she knew it was someone Xiuyan genuinely liked, so she felt the person must be worthy.

She couldn’t play the role of the villain in a romance.

So she quickly raised her thumb and praised, “Your daughter is the most beautiful in our village, but unfortunately, Xiuyan already has someone he likes. He’s just waiting to pass the Xiucai exam to propose.”

“What!” The Jiang family woman couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t seen Shen Xiuyan interacting with any girls. Had someone beaten her to it?

But when she thought about how he was now a Xiucai, she considered the future possibilities. She gritted her teeth and continued, “That’s okay. It’s common for wealthy families to have multiple wives. Now that your son is a Xiucai, it’s only right. It wouldn’t be bad for him to have more women to care for him. Plus, I genuinely like Xiuyan. If my daughter could be a concubine, I’d be fine with it.”

“This…” Zhou Shi hesitated. The conversation had gone this far, and she was a little swayed. “Well, when Xiuyan comes back, I’ll discuss it with him and let you know.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll wait for the good news!” The Jiang family woman smiled, satisfied.

She knew men all too well. Having more beautiful concubines was a great thing. How could he refuse?

If Shen Xiuyan turned her down, it would mean he was blind.

In the evening, Shen Xiuyan returned from school.

Seeing Zhou Shi and Shen Yuanming looking so happy, he asked, “Did you both hear the news?”

Zhou Shi nodded happily, “Of course! The messenger came to deliver the good news.”

“That’s good. I’ll go back to my room to study now.”

Zhou Shi: “?”

Her son was working this hard now?

He passed the Xiucai exam and still wanted to study

Moreover, hearing his tone, there was little excitement about passing the Xiucai exam.

For a moment, Zhou Shi couldn’t understand what Shen Xiuyan was thinking.

Zhou Shi couldn’t comprehend the hardships Shen Xiuyan was enduring. Every moment of suffering he faced was in anticipation of the sweetness of love to come.

Seeing him so unaffected, heading back to his room to study, Zhou Shi quickly called out to him.

“Xiuyan, wait a moment. I need to tell you something.”

Shen Xiuyan, utterly confused, waited for Zhou Shi to speak. As she explained everything step by step, Shen Xiuyan wore an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

He shook his hands frantically. “This won’t do, Mother, don’t get me into trouble.”

As a socialist successor who had gone through nine years of compulsory education, how could he have multiple wives?

Not to mention, his heart could only hold Mingyue, or else he wouldn’t have been single for over twenty years in his past life.

Such things shouldn’t be said carelessly. If Mingyue ever heard about it, it would be bad enough if she just scolded him, but what if she thought he was two-timing and kicked him out, replacing him with someone more obedient? That would make him cry out loud for real.

After all, there were plenty of people waiting to eat from the Su Family’s soft rice!

If that wife of his just disappeared, could his mother make it up to him?

Of course, she couldn’t!!!

This wouldn’t do. It was a matter of whether he would be single for the rest of his life. He had to take it seriously.