Chapter 946: Calculating Scholar 1

In the fenced yard, a few chicks chased each other, chirping as they played. Nearby, an old woman in a gray robe was sorting things on a bamboo tray, laying them out to dry.

From the way she was dressed, it was clearly an ancient setting. As for her current identity… there was no need to ask. She was definitely poor.

Tang Wan raised her brows slightly. “Little cutie, the worlds I used to enter were all full of rich people. Lately, though, they’ve been getting worse and worse.”

Little cutie chuckled. “Host, I can’t control that. Isn’t everything random?”

“Hah. Fine. Tell me—what’s the plot this time?” Tang Wan asked.

“Alright, host! Please wait!” Little cutie immediately began transmitting the storyline.

A moment later, Tang Wan finished receiving the memories. She lifted a hand and pressed it to her forehead.

Why were the cannon fodder characters she possessed getting more and more brainless?

…

Her name in this world was still Tang Wan, an orphan from Tangjia Village.

The farmhouse in front of her didn’t belong to her—it was the home of the male lead, Li Fuze.

In the original plot, Tang Wan’s father had been a one-eyed hunter in this mountain-side village. He died after being bitten by a tiger while hunting, with no way to treat his injuries. Her mother was a mute who later drowned after falling into the river, unable to call for help.

Fortunately, her parents had been diligent while alive and managed to save more than ten taels of silver. After their deaths, the original owner didn’t have to worry about starving, at least for a while.

Although both of her parents had physical disabilities, the daughter they left behind was exceptionally beautiful—like a blooming peony even at a young age.

After becoming an orphan, she received a great deal of care from the villagers. Among them, the Li family next door looked after her the most.

Because of this, the original Tang Wan gradually fell in love with Li Fuze, who was around her age.

And that seemingly sweet beginning… was the start of her tragedy.

…

Li Fuze was the long-awaited son of the Li family, born only after they had five daughters in a row. Naturally, he was treasured like a jewel, raised in the palm of their hands and spoiled since childhood.

As a result, he grew up arrogant and willful.

But everything changed after he got into a fight with another child in the village.

Because from that moment on—he was no longer the same person.

That’s right. The male lead was a transmigrator.

Even before transmigrating, his name had been Li Fuze. He was a calculating and ambitious man—a classic “phoenix man” who excelled at climbing upward.

After realizing he had crossed into this world, there was no way he would accept living as an ordinary farmer for the rest of his life.

So he told his family that he wanted to study.

He was determined to pass the imperial examinations and rise above the rest.

Mother Li, eager to give her precious son the best of everything, agreed without hesitation. She quickly prepared the necessary arrangements and apprenticed him to the only scholar in town.

Li Fuze himself was highly capable. He soon displayed remarkable talent in his studies, earning his teacher’s favor. At the age of twelve, he passed the exam and became the youngest xiucai in the town.

However, unlike modern times, education in ancient days was extremely expensive.

By then, the Li family’s daughters had already been married off, and the household’s financial situation was limited. Although they were willing to support him, there was only so much they could provide.

So, in order to continue pursuing the imperial examinations…

Li Fuze set his sights on the original Tang Wan.