Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 307 Towards the Golden Palace (11)

Yan Zhen asked, "Have you read this book?"

"I've seen it; the Master's family has a copy."

Yan Zhen looked surprised.

Books in this era are not like those of modern times, where a single story can be repeatedly shared across different social media platforms.

The content of the printed books is unique.

It's not surprising that Xue Lin had read this book, nor is it surprising that he could recognize the wrong words, but the fact that he could point out the errors proves that his memory is much better than that of ordinary people.

"Okay, I understand. You can go and rest now."

After Xue Lin left, Yan Zhen looked at the housekeeper and asked, "Do you know anything about this child's family situation?"

The head of the household was a very meticulous person. Since he planned to take Xue Lin into his household as a slave, and he had helped arrange Xue's mother's funeral, he would definitely take the opportunity to find out about Xue Lin's background.

The executive sighed: "He's a pitiful child. A few years ago, his family was doing well, but his father became addicted to gambling and gambled away everything. His mother was frail and sickly, and the family relied entirely on him, a teenager. His father went to another place to escape his gambling debts, and now we don't know if he's alive or dead. You could say he's all alone in the family."

After the steward finished speaking, seeing Yan Zhen's thoughtful expression, he whispered, "Manager, do you intend to train him to be an accountant?"

The shopkeeper is illiterate. Next year, as the business expands, we will need an accountant.

Managing money is naturally a matter for trustworthy people. Xue Lin's indenture is still in the hands of his own manager, so promoting him, who is literate, to be the accountant is a good choice.

Yan Zhen shook his head: "No, observe him for the next few days. If he is intelligent and quick-witted, I would like to send him to school."

The butler was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Yan Zhen's lips curled into a smile, a profound meaning surfacing in his eyes: "Among the scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants are the lowest in Daji. Even if I am rich and powerful, I will still be looked down upon. But if a scholar from my family were to become the top scholar—"

The butler looked utterly astonished: "You want to send Xue Lin to take the imperial examination?"

"Yes."

Although Yan Zhen has settled down in Yinzhou, she has not forgotten her mission in this world.

Her target was Xie Zhao, the unfaithful man in the capital, from beginning to end.

If Xue Lin could become the top scholar in the imperial examination, it would make her plan to enter the officialdom of the capital much easier.

She wanted to show Xie Zhao that if Luo Yun could produce one top scholar, she could produce a second.

Xie Zhao is not unique.

Although the butler did not understand why Yan Zhen did this, he adhered to the principle of "respect despite not understanding" and carefully observed Xue Lin for several days before reporting to Yan Zhen.

"Bold and intelligent, meticulous, and with a photographic memory." The steward's eyes were full of joy. "In my opinion, this child will surely achieve great things in the future."

Having achieved the desired result, Yan Zhen immediately made the decision: "Then please take good care of Xue Lin's schooling, Steward."

Two days later, the steward contacted the school and arranged everything. Yan Zhen then called Xue Lin over and told him about sending him to school.

Xue Lin was stunned for a long time: "Master means... you want to send me to school?"

Yan Zhen: "Yes."

Xue Lin was not blinded by joy. He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and asked in confusion, "I don't understand, why would you do this, Master?"

Yan Zhen was satisfied with his reaction. She exchanged a glance with the butler and smiled slightly: "I am not some master, I am a woman."

Xue Lin was taken aback: "Huh?"

Yan Zhen briefly recounted how she had worked hard to give birth to children, serve her mother-in-law, and raise the first top scholar in Luo Family Village, only to be ruthlessly abandoned by her husband, who even wanted to kill her.

"My goal is to expand my business to the capital and become a royal merchant of Daji," Yan Zhen said. "But merchants are ultimately lowly, so I want you to pass the imperial examinations, become an official in the court, and become my support to help me take revenge."

Xue Lin remained silent for a long time, then bowed deeply to Yan Zhen: "Yes!"

-

Three years later.

Cao Mansion.

In the grand courtyard house with four courtyards, Yan Zhen, dressed as a woman with her hair tied up in a bun, sat in the flower hall, drinking tea while listening to her accountants report on the quarterly accounts.

Over the past three years, "Cao's" business has spread to various industries, including brewing, inns and restaurants, silk and cloth shops, jade and antiques, gold and silver jewelry, rouge and powder, spice and embroidery workshops, and money exchange and pawnshops.

Among them, the "Yaochi Zui" brewed by Cao Ji became famous for its sweet and mellow taste, and Yan Zhen, the owner behind "Cao Ji", became the richest man in Yinzhou.

After the accountants finished reporting their accounts one by one, Yan Zhen glanced at the ledgers symbolically and then dismissed them.

Three and a half years after arriving in this world, she still hasn't been able to learn the local language.

However, with Xue Lin overseeing the accounts each quarter, Yan Zhen only needed to put on a show in front of others to let the accountant know that she was not someone to be fooled.

Speaking of Xue Lin, he has lived up to Yan Zhen's expectations over the past three years, passing the county examination, prefectural examination, academy examination, and provincial examination in succession, and is now a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination).

The New Year has just passed, and the imperial examination will be held in the capital in March. Yan Zhen plans to accompany him there, and also lay the foundation for moving the business focus to the capital.

Yan Zhen put down his teacup and asked the maidservant beside him, "Where is Young Master Lin?"

The maidservant lowered her head and said meekly, "He just went out. The gatekeeper said someone is looking for him."

In front of outsiders, Xue Lin and Yan Zhen addressed each other as brother and sister, and in the mansion, Xue Lin treated Yan Zhen with the same food, clothing and other necessities as a young master.

Xue Lin is a sensible person with a mild temperament. Besides studying, he spends most of his time helping Yan Zhen with his business.

With his help, Yan Zhen was saved a lot of trouble.

Ever since Xue Lin passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, people who previously disliked the Cao family as merchants who reeked of money and were unwilling to associate with them have all put aside their prejudices and come to befriend them.

Yan Zhen guessed that Xue Lin had gone to see his classmates.

She instructed, "Go and call the steward of the young master's courtyard. He will be leaving for the capital in two days, and I have something to tell him."

"Yes."

No sooner had the maid left than the head steward strode into the flower hall, his face grave. “Manager, something has happened.”

Yan Zhen paused slightly: "What is it?"

Accompanied by the executive, Yan Zhen walked towards the main gate. Along the way, he heard a vague explanation from the executive—Xue Lin's gambling-addicted father, who was heavily in debt, had suddenly returned from the dead.

Upon learning of his wife's death and his son's adoption by a wealthy family, and now his son's passing the imperial examination, a rogue named Xue Qing came to Xue Lin's door, demanding to see him.

As soon as Xue Lin appeared, Xue Qing grabbed his leg and burst into tears, telling him how difficult it had been for him to hide from debt collectors all these years, and how much he missed him and his mother...

Xue Lin remained unmoved and refused Xue Qing's request for money.

Xue Qing flew into a rage, slapped Xue Lin across the face, and threatened to report him to the authorities, accusing Xue Lin of a grave act of filial impiety...

When Yan Zhen arrived at the main gate, he saw Xue Lin standing at the door from afar, dressed in a bamboo-green brocade robe. His jawline was slightly tense, his back was straight, and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides.

Before him, Xue Qing, dressed in rags, pointed at him and cursed him, seemingly making a fuss, but his eyes were full of shrewdness and calculation.