Chapter 975: Calculating Scholar 30

Tang Wan didn’t notice Ye Qingtong’s slightly frustrated expression. Suppressing her laughter, she gave a light cough and said, “Tong Tong, are you heading back now?”

“Mm. Lock the door properly after I leave,” Ye Qingtong replied.

“Alright,” Tang Wan nodded.

He watched as she closed the courtyard gate, only then turning to leave with light, quick steps.

What he didn’t know was that, the moment he left, Li Fuze stood next door, staring at the Tang family gate with a dark expression.

Tang Wan had gone out with Ye Qingtong.

This woman, who used to meet him alone all the time, had now hooked up with someone else—and worse, she had gone out alone with a man and returned so late. With such behavior, wasn’t she practically begging to be taken advantage of?

Li Fuze’s expression grew colder.

Next year’s imperial examination was approaching, yet he was still struggling with the funds needed for his studies. Thinking of this, his eyes darkened further, and a thought quietly formed in his mind.

“ Tang Wan… you forced me into this,” he muttered.

In ancient times, the imperial examinations were nothing like modern ones. Educational resources were scarce and precious—especially books. Without printing technology, books were extremely expensive, and materials related to the exams were even harder to obtain.

Because of this, most candidates who could afford to participate were from wealthy families. And if those families were merchants, their children wouldn’t even qualify for the exams.

This alone showed how strict and exclusive the system was.

Precisely because of this, scholars held an exceptionally high status.

In his previous life, Li Fuze had relied on academic success to enter a prestigious university and connect with wealthy women. In this life, if he wanted to climb to the top of society, he would have to make his mark through the imperial examinations.

Otherwise, he would remain nothing more than a farmer, living a life of hardship and exploitation.

No matter what, he could not miss next year’s exam.

The next day, not long after Tang Wan woke up, Mother Li came to visit.

“Wan Wan, I heard you’ve gotten engaged to that hunter from Ye Village?” she said, her tone full of concern. “I’ve watched you grow up—why didn’t you tell your aunt about such an important matter? What if that family isn’t good?”

Hearing this, Tang Wan quickly explained, “Auntie, please don’t be upset. It all happened so suddenly. I didn’t expect the Ye family to act so quickly—the matchmaker came right away, and I didn’t have time to inform you. But don’t worry, Aunt Ye is very kind.”

Mother Li narrowed her eyes slightly before asking, “Then how much betrothal gift did the Ye family give?”

Tang Wan raised two fingers.

Seeing this, Mother Li’s voice immediately rose. “What? Only two taels of silver? They’re clearly taking advantage of the fact that you have no family! You must not agree to this marriage!”

Tang Wan quickly shook her head. “Auntie, you misunderstood. It’s not two taels—it’s twenty taels.”

“Twenty taels?” Mother Li froze in surprise.

“Mm. And aside from that, they’ll prepare everything else themselves,” Tang Wan added.

Mother Li was instantly speechless.

She had assumed the Ye family was trying to take advantage of Tang Wan’s lack of family and marry her off cheaply. But instead, they had offered twenty taels of silver—a sum that even the Li family couldn’t easily match in a year.