A Poor Scholar Owes Five Taels and Must Feed His Whole Family Through the Imperial Exams

From the start, Qi Yi is saddled with a huge debt of five taels. His dilapidated thatched hut offers little shelter from the wind and rain, while his blind mother is frail and his delicate wife is worn out. He is trapped in the depths of despair. Knowing that studying is the only way out for someone from a poor family, he puts aside his impatience and studies day and night. His writing earns him enough to solve urgent problems, and the imperial examinations give him the chance to rise above his humble origins. He makes the honors list, escapes poverty, and returns home wealthy to protect his loved ones.