Zhuang Zhou dreams of a butterfly, and the butterfly dreams of Zhuang Zhou.
Lin An was an ordinary young herdsman from Linjia'ao in the Great Yong Dynasty. He was born on the day the new emperor ascended the throne, and Chen, the village midwife, said he was destined for greatness.
His family stood together as one. His grandparents showed no favoritism, his aunt-by-marriage was not selfish, and his older siblings were loving. But their land was scarce, their clan was mired in old grudges, his grandmother was chronically ill, the household was in debt, and the autumn taxes were due. What was the family to do...
As Lin An grew older, memories began to surface in his mind, things he had never seen or heard of. He called them memories of a later age.
Could these memories turn the tide and help the Lin family build a better life? Starting with secretly studying, he devotes himself to learning, seeks out a teacher to begin his education, and gradually embarks on the proper path to the imperial examinations. Will he pass with flying colors and enter officialdom? Follow this young man from the mountain hamlet of the Lin family as he strives to make his way.
Alternate history, imperial examinations, family life, no melodrama, no infighting, slow burn...
The smell of AI is too strong 🙂