Chapter 193: “Tianyou, You Studied Since Childhood”

Li Xuemei fell asleep as she spoke.

Yan Xiangheng and Da Ya had dozed off even earlier. After a busy day, everyone was exhausted.

Yan Yu, having secretly eaten some dried spirit snake meat, was still full of energy.

Yan Lao’er knew that Old Yan definitely had something to say to him, so he kept his eyes wide open, determined to stay awake.

Sure enough.

Old Yan paced over.

“Tianyou.”

Yan Lao’er quickly followed.

Naturally, little Yan Xiao’er tagged along as well.

Yan Huaiwen walked a bit farther and turned around to see his little niece, still full of energy, trailing behind her father.

He smiled helplessly.

Then, he informed the two of them about Lord Tian’s suggestion that they attend the county academy to study.

Yan Lao’er was delighted. “This is a great opportunity! Big Brother, you should take Heng’er. If he can enter the county academy now, his future prospects will surely be bright!”

He was no longer the clueless newcomer he once was. He had already gathered a lot of information about scholars from his mountain brothers.

Both county academies and provincial academies were official institutions, and ordinary people had no chance of entering them.

One had to be a shengyuan—commonly known as a xiucai—to be eligible for admission.

The instructors there weren’t just regular teachers; they were all government officials with rank and prestige. Their knowledge and status far surpassed that of private tutors or ordinary academies.

Moreover, these institutions offered hidden advantages. News traveled fast in official schools. In examination years, who was appointed as an examiner, their personality, their literary style, and which classics they favored—all this information would circulate.

Not everyone had the opportunity to cater to an examiner’s preferences.

Yan Huaiwen said gently, “It is a good thing, which is why I want you to go.”

His words were like a stone dropped into a pond, causing endless ripples!

Yan Lao’er’s mind went blank.

“Big Brother, I can’t! I’m not cut out for studying. Heng’er is like you—he’s a born scholar. How can you waste such a great opportunity on me? This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous…” Yan Lao’er shook his head like a rattle drum.

“I know Heng’er’s abilities well. The county academy won’t help him much. At his current level, he’d be ranked about average in Qishan Prefecture. But here in Guanzhou…” Yan Huaiwen smiled faintly. “Barring any surprises, earning the title of xiucai won’t be difficult for him.”

Yan Lao’er: What the hell?!

Was his nephew really that impressive?!

Yan Yu had always known her eldest brother excelled in his studies, but she had no way to gauge exactly where he stood. Now she had a clear understanding.

He had evolved from merely a “scholar-in-the-making” to a xiucai candidate.

“But there’s so much work at home! I can’t leave. Big Brother, I just took an order for several thousand catties of charcoal.” Yan Lao’er said with difficulty.

Privately, he gave himself a mental thumbs-up.

As for those “several thousand catties”… well, a little exaggeration was necessary for survival!

Yan Huaiwen looked at his little niece.

Yan Yu grinned at him.

Silently lighting a candle for her father.

She had just reported their work to her eldest uncle today, emphasizing the charcoal orders…

“The six piglets we just brought back need careful tending…

The house construction is ongoing. If we suddenly run out of bricks or materials, what do we do?

Every couple of days, we have to go to town to buy meat and vegetables…

Charcoal has to be burned daily!

I also arranged with the Qi brothers to go hunting in the mountains and set up fishing nets. I even prepared the nets!

The fields at home aren’t fully plowed yet. And the ten mu of land near the village is almost ready for seeding…

Big Brother, there’s just so much work.”

Yan Lao’er spread his hands, his expression as innocent as could be.

I’m just that important. The family can’t function without me.

Yan Huaiwen had already considered all of this.

Heng’er wasn’t a child anymore. With him and Tianyou at home, there was no need to worry.

In fact, Heng’er was more than capable of managing things on his own. Starting with household affairs, understanding worldly matters, and integrating them with book knowledge was also a form of training.

“This is not up for debate.” Yan Huaiwen said firmly. “You studied since childhood. Even if you lack talent, you have some foundation. Here in Guanzhou, being literate is rare. You will take the county exam next February.”

As the head of the Yan family, Yan Huaiwen’s decision was final. He did not need his younger brother’s consent.

Yan Yu’s mind flashed with a realization: This is the power of an eldest brother acting as a father!

She looked at her father sympathetically. There was no way out. If Old Yan insisted, he could force him into school, register him for the exam, and even drag him into the exam hall—

If he wasn’t afraid of embarrassing himself.

But thinking about it… so what?

It was just school.

Might as well go. As for passing? That was up to fate.

Worst case scenario, he could just fail again and again.

After enough failures, Old Yan would eventually give up hope.

Yan Lao’er thought the same. Resisting outright wouldn’t work—Old Yan was dead set on getting him a diploma in this book-scorning Guanzhou.

As a father himself, he understood.

If it were his daughter who had studied for ten years without even getting a diploma, he’d be frustrated too.

But he wasn’t the original Yan Lao’er! Making him study and take exams was a complete waste of time.

There were so many better things he could do. Was silver not shiny? Was copper not clinking?

Making money wasn’t more satisfying?

His plan? Stall for time.

If he could show Old Yan that he was committed to making money—enough to support the family, live comfortably, and even out-earn Old Yan himself…

Maybe he could change Old Yan’s mind.

Failing at studying didn’t mean he had no future.

Why not be a rich man instead?

“Big Brother, if you really want me to take the exam, I will. But things at home are just too hectic right now. I can’t leave, and I need time to pick up my studies again. How about this—three years? Once we finish paying the land tax and secure the deeds, I’ll be at ease and can focus on studying.”

Nice! Stalling for three years.

Yan Yu shook her head.

Her father had miscalculated.

Sure enough.

Old Yan’s face darkened.

“So that’s how you plan to deal with me? Three years? Why not thirty?!”

Yan Lao’er saw his expression turn sour and quickly changed tactics. “What about one year? At least let me settle things at home first.”

Old Yan kept staring at him silently, his expression still grim.

Yan Lao’er caved further. “Fine, after the New Year, in spring! The year’s plans start in spring, and next spring, we’ll be busy planting crops.”

Yan Huaiwen said calmly, “Spring plowing and autumn harvest both come with official breaks.”

Yan Lao’er: …That’s actually pretty reasonable.

“Uncle, if Father goes to study, will he have to live in Crouching Tiger City?” Yan Yu saw her father faltering and stepped in to change the subject.

“Yes.”

“Wow! Living in the city!” She looked as if she longed for it.

“Uncle, can we all go together? Mother, Big Brother, Big Sister, Aunt Rong—let’s all go! That way, we can still be together every day. Uncle, don’t just take Father, take us too!”

Her eyes were full of anticipation, pleading, and a strong unwillingness to be separated from Tianyou…

Yan Lao’er immediately caught on and pleaded, “Big Brother, our lives just stabilized. I wake up early and work hard for this family.

I made mistakes before, and I want to make up for them.

Big Brother, the land, the house, the courtyard…

They mean a lot to me!”

Yan Lao’er played the “I’ve changed” family card—SMACK!

Tragic.

He’s over twenty, yet his big brother is still forcing him to study.

So bitter!