Chapter 520: All Things Are Inferior to Books

ll eventually invite disaster and harm themselves and others. 。It's better to just give them what they deserve and feel more at ease. 。The village head continued, "Therefore, the cucumbers and melons...Before entering the examination hall, all candidates must undergo a thorough check to prevent the bringing in of cheating materials.

Fortunately, the faces of the examinees were still preserved. Two sheds were built at the entrance of the Gongyuan. Every time, two examinees went in, took off their shirts for inspection, and then were put into the courtyard.

If there were any inappropriate students, they would be directly taken out and dragged away.

In previous years, there were indeed some daring students who took risks, but this year, none were found.

Because all the students were afraid of being framed or falsely accused of cheating, they didn't bring anything extra!

The soldiers looked bored, and finally became listless. They just dealt with it out of obligation.

This process, speaking simply, but in reality, it's very slow and agonizing.

Even though the Tianwu Empire now only controls half of its former territory, the imperial examination system is still maintained, albeit with many unnecessary regulations removed. It's even uncertain whether there are still benefits like tax exemptions for those who pass the examination as a scholar. Nevertheless, many people still take the exam.

After all, out of all things, only reading is the highest. This sentence is ingrained in the bones of every Tianwu citizen and will never change because of anything!

The line of examinees stretched out exceptionally far, and the crowd of onlookers was kept even farther away.

This also included the headmaster and masters of the academy, as well as Mr. Wen, the three Li Zhen Sheng brothers, plus Mrs. Li Lao who peeked out from the carriage, along with Tao Hongying and Jia Yin.

This time, Jiarren and Liguer will be staying in the small room at the gongyuan for three days, both eating and living there.

Before, Jia Yin definitely wanted to prepare some good things for her brothers, like cookies and oil tea noodles, which are both convenient and filling.

The former can be eaten right after being caught, while the latter needs to be rinsed with hot water to make a bowl of fragrant noodle soup.

But the academy, frightened by the incident of paper notes hidden in wooden plaques, prepared all the necessities for students' daily life and didn't allow anyone to bring anything extra. Jia Yin could only lower her flag and stop her activities.

After all, she wasn't familiar with the imperial examinations of this time period. What if she brought something taboo for her brother That would be doing good deeds that turn bad.

As everyone watched expectantly, the last student finally walked into the Imperial Examination Hall just as noon approached.

The gate was slammed shut immediately, with soldiers guarding both inside and outside. Their swords gleamed menacingly, forbidding anyone from approaching.

As there was no further point in staying, everyone else left. The academy kept one scholar and two attendants behind, while the Li family sent Zheng Feng, Zheng He, and a carriage. All the rest returned home.

Li Lao San hurried back to Luo'an, at noon when the dining hall was busiest.

Li Zhensheng also had to go back to the restaurant. Li Laoer wanted to take Mr. Wen to a flower shop for a stroll.

Li Laotai's heart was in turmoil, thinking about her grandson. She couldn't do anything at home, so she might as well go to the new flower shop too.

Li La Er had just given the flower shop the name "Bǎi Huāyuán" (Hundred Flower Garden), and the signboard was already carved and hung at the entrance of the courtyard.

The gardener's family, sent by the Hou Mansion steward, was surnamed Cao. The elderly couple and their young children were all honest and hardworking people, very diligent and obedient.

They had only been there for two days, but they had already tidied up the entire courtyard, inside and out, including the small garden to the east.

Their deed of sale had already been transferred from the Hou Mansion to the Li family's hands, and Li Lao Er had made it clear to the old man and his four children.

Afterward, they lived in the small courtyard, enjoying the same treatment as those in Hou Mansion. They had clothes for every season and gifts during festivals.

In addition, the wages here are 20% higher than at the Hou Mansion because there's more work here in Baihuayuan and it's not as leisurely as at the Hou Mansion.

The Cao family of four was terrified. As old servants of the Marquis's mansion for many years, it was their duty to work for their young mistress, the county princess. How could they possibly ask for a raise

Though they tried to refuse, they had no choice but to accept.

They've been working their fingers to the bone these days, afraid they wouldn't be worth the pay!

But the only regret is that although this courtyard is called Baihua Garden, there isn't a single flower now...

Mr. Wen and Old Mrs. Li walked around for a while, were very satisfied with the small courtyard, and asked the same question.

Mr. Wen smiled and said, "This courtyard is good everywhere, but there isn't a single flower! When will you have flowers sent over"

Having said that, he pointed to the small garden and asked, "If we build a greenhouse here, it would be best to get some glazed tiles. They let in sunlight in winter, keeping things warm and looking beautiful."

But both Liuli and I are incapable of doing that. We can only wait for the Master to return and ask him to find it after.

Li Lao'er smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. There will be good flowers, and there will be glazed tiles!"

Having said that, he winked at his little niece.

Jia Yin also grinned back at her second uncle with a sly look.

These past few nights, the two cousins haven't been working for nothing. They had everything planned out long ago.

Of course, the famous flowers can be taken out directly from the space.

As for the glazed tiles, when Jia Yin was living in her ancestral home in her past life, she wanted to renovate the old house thoroughly. She had bought all the materials but then a sudden cold snap made it unsuitable for construction.

So, the old house was repainted inside and out, new tiles were laid down, the kitchen was renovated, and furniture and appliances were moved in. Only the exterior roof tiles, windows, and doors were left to be done after spring arrived. Then she traveled through time...

For this, the large pieces of glass she bought were also kept, piled up in the storeroom.

Now that greenhouses are being built in flower shops, they will surely come in handy!

Of course, if she built a greenhouse on every acre of land, she wouldn't have enough glass left.

But with a little good design, ensuring that half the sky is visible inside the warm shed shouldn't be too difficult...

Mr. Wen also knew that Jia Yin had some magical qualities. Seeing the two of them like this, he stopped asking further questions.

Everyone went to Xian Kele for lunch, but Lao Tai Li was a bit restless, constantly thinking about her grandson who was taking the exam.

Jia Yin and Er Bo discussed it for a bit, and decided to just do all their work for the next few days ahead of schedule. So, they went back to Baihua Garden again.

Li Laotai and Tao Hongying were in charge of tidying up the main house in the back yard, where they would be staying for a few days.

That means even after the Gongyuan opens, I'll still have Jia Ren and Li Ge come over to live together. We'll wait for the results of the exam together, and let them relax for a few days first.

To prepare for the exam, these two children got up at five in the morning and studied all night, they were really exhausted.

No matter how the exam goes, you deserve a few days of fun and rest!

Li Lao Er went to the carpenter's workshop to pick up the pre-ordered flower stand, while Jia Yin took Dong Mei to the back garden of Houfu.

Dong Mei and Da Shan's yard was right at the back door, making it too convenient for Jia Yin to cheat.

Soon, one after another, the famous flowers were loaded onto carriages outside the back gate. Even if outsiders saw them, they would think that these flowers were found by the Hou Mansion to help the Li family.

After all, the former steward of Hou's residence was known throughout Xindu for trading flower seeds and roots, even those that were half-dead. He wouldn't turn down any, bringing them back in pots...

Of course, not all flowers in a hundred gardens can be famous ones. First, they are too eye-catching and likely to arouse excessive envy.

Secondly, rarity is precious. A famous flower is renowned precisely because of its scarcity!

If there were wildflowers everywhere, and you stepped on five or six with every footstep, no one would care, no one would like them.

So, in the end, I also brought back a few cars full of common flowers and plants, including even a few tanks of lotus.

Among them, the most eye-catching are dozens of roses. When in full bloom, they are enough to decorate the walls of a hundred gardens.

Four carriages shuttled back and forth between Hou Mansion and the Hundred Flowers Garden for seven or eight trips, attracting attention and curious glances.

No one dared to inquire at the Hou residence, but outside Baihua Garden, curious onlookers gathered..., having everything I need and more, there are still times like this when I think about my hometown where I grew up.The Li family hailed from the remote grasslands, where snow fell for most of the yea...