On a spring day, the capital was bustling with traffic. The children from poor families were dressed in simple clothes, with perseverance and expectation on their faces. They were walking or riding donkeys, walking through the bustling streets, heading towards the examination room.

In sharp contrast, the children of the rich and powerful rode in magnificent carriages, with the curtains lifted to reveal their proud faces. Their clothes were embroidered with exquisite patterns, they wore expensive jewelry, and their every move revealed an innate sense of superiority.

Outside the examination room, the crowd was surging. The children from poor families stood silently by, watching the children from noble families walk into the examination room chatting and laughing.

They felt both envy and reluctance, but they knew that only by relying on their own talents and hard work could they stand out in this spring examination and change the fate of themselves and their families.

Two days after the exam, the atmosphere in Beijing became increasingly tense and expectant. At dawn, people were already thronging in front of the list.

The children from poor families came to the list early. Some of them rubbed their hands nervously, while others held their breath, for fear of missing their names.

Suddenly, there was a burst of noise. It turned out that the list was announced.

The children from poor families rushed forward, searching eagerly among the densely packed names.

Some had happy expressions on their faces and were cheering, obviously having passed the exam; others had solemn expressions and were dejected, obviously having failed.

Suddenly, there was a burst of exclamation from the crowd. On the list, the names of poor students occupied half of the list. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, these names shone like stars, lighting up the hopes of countless poor students.

A young man in a tattered blue shirt, with tears of excitement flashing in his eyes, pointed to his own name with a trembling finger, and said in a choked voice, "I... I passed the exam!" The people around him cast approving glances at him, some patted his shoulders, and some gave him a thumbs up and cheered for him.

Not far away, an old man stroked his beard, his eyes full of satisfaction, "I didn't expect that so many children from poor families would be admitted this year. God bless our dynasty, and there are so many talented people!" As soon as he finished speaking, he attracted a wave of agreement.

On the contrary, those sons of high-ranking officials and nobles who had once enjoyed great glory now looked ashen. They gathered together, whispering to each other, with resentful expressions on their faces.

A young man in fancy clothes clenched his fists and smashed them against the tree trunk next to him, saying indignantly, "Why are the questions given completely different from what I have memorized? I have been memorizing for so long, but I failed in such an unfair way!" His voice was full of unwillingness and anger, which resonated with the people around him.

Another nobleman's son, with a pale face, said in a trembling voice, "Me too. I thought I had a sure win in this spring examination, but I didn't expect..." Before he finished speaking, he covered his face and cried , looking extremely lost.

Their faces were full of dissatisfaction and anger, and they seemed extremely disappointed with the results of the exam.

"Keep your voice down. Are you afraid that others won't know if you cheat?" A low and stern voice suddenly sounded, interrupting their conversation.

It turned out to be Master Ning, Ning Caichen, who had made great military achievements and was feared by all. The current emperor treated him with great courtesy, but his grandson was here, feeling indignant and complaining about the unfairness of the imperial examination.

He was dressed in a dark robe, with a dignified face and sharp eyes. He walked slowly, each step seemed steady and powerful. The air around him seemed to freeze because of his arrival, and the originally noisy nobles and their children also instantly quieted down, looking at him nervously.

Ning Caichen walked up to the group of nobles and their sons, his eyes like knives, sweeping across their faces one by one. His voice was deep and powerful, and every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of force, "The imperial examination is a national event, how can you talk nonsense here and undermine the government! If you make such remarks again, don't blame me for being rude!"

"You go back with me!"

Ning Caichen said to his grandson Ning Zhi.

As soon as Ning Zhi got home , he knelt on the ground.

"Grandpa, I was wrong, but it really wasn't me..."

Suddenly, his father Ning Ming walked in.

"Dad, it's not the child's fault. It's me. Our family has never produced a scholar in all these years, and I just want him to stand out."

"Did you buy the test papers from someone?"

"Yes, there are people selling them on the market, for 20,000 silver coins!"

"How much?" Ning Caichen almost fainted from anger.

"Who would have thought that the question this time would be different!"

Ning Zhi knelt down and said, "That's right, I'm so angry!"

Ning Ming and Ning Caichen said at the same time, "Shut up!"

"All the money was given?"

Ning Ming nodded.

…

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we found out!" Caiwei ran in anxiously and said.

"Exactly as you guessed!"

"Then thank you very much, Mr. Qin!"

In fact, Shen Nianshu didn't know, she was just gambling.

She knew that what Mr. Qin hated most in his life was cheating in scientific examinations and the inheritance of wealthy families. Children from poor families have studied hard for decades and cannot be treated fairly.

In the court, officials protect each other, but in the end it is the common people who suffer.

It’s so annoying that talented people can’t be reused!

Shen Nianshu just analyzed it with Mr. Qin and found that there must be someone selling test papers in the court, because Mr. Qin was so capable. He usually ordered the test papers two months in advance and was not allowed to change the test papers unless there was an accident.

This time I gave them a blow!

Shen Nianshu knew that there would be descendants of officials, but she didn't expect there to be so many.

A new idea came to mind.

Since you want to gain a foothold here and you don’t have your own power, why not?

It seems that he has to make a lot of money and cultivate himself. Over time, he will definitely become an extremely sharp blade in his hand.

Caiwei , "Mother, this is what Pearl sent in."

Shen Nianshu laughed loudly after reading it and thought to herself, God is helping me, I really get what I want!

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Shen Nianshu handed the letter to Cai Wei , "Read it."

The net profit in the first month was a total of 230,000 taels of silver. This is money that can be seen with the naked eye!

So Pearl wrote a letter saying that she wanted to open a new store, which really coincided with Shen Nianshu.

It seems that things are moving in a good direction step by step .

" Caiwei , this is the new balm formula. Please find a way to pass it to Pearl."

The more Shen Nianshu thought about it, the more excited she became. Perhaps, not only the balm, but now that she had the capital, she could do a lot more.

Clothes, jewelry, blush, it seems you need to plan carefully, do whatever you want to make money !

"The Emperor has arrived~"

There was a loud bang from the eunuch at the door.

Shen Nianshu was really speechless. She was contemplating her own great industry. What was he doing here?

That’s what I thought in my heart.

He still said, "I, my concubine, see the Emperor!"