Male Lead, Imperial Examinations, and Transmigration 男主，科举，穿越

1. 151 神 The Divine Fire Path 神火大道 Among Mulberries and Pus桑间濮上Eastern Fantasy2.7M WordsOngoing Mortal-style cultivation, no female lead, no golden finger Zhuang Yu, a boy from an ordinary fishing village, gets the chance to join the Qingyang Sect, a cultivation sect. There, he obtains a crude cultivation manual called The Divine Fire Ascension Art. Through countless dangers in the cultivation world, he gradually rises from a kind and honest young man to a ruthless overlord in his own right. [Lower Five Realms]: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Trans 6.2kReads8.5Score441Shelves

   Reader note

   I'm currently reading both of these books and following their updates. I also think they're both very good. Does anyone have any special recommendations or books that rival these two?

2. 152 大 Ming Dynasty Imperial Exams: From the Start, I Became the Father of Five Children 大明科举，开局成了五个孩子的爹 Little Zhang Under the Night Lamp夜灯下的小张Historical393k WordsCompleted (Farming + daily life in ancient times + imperial examinations) A reassuring read. Shen Lin'an inexplicably finds himself reborn in ancient times in the body of a widower, with four sons and a daughter to care for, as well as a mother in her fifties. The original owner was a scholar, but he had never even earned the title of licentiate. He was too weak to shoulder a load or lift a hand, knew nothing of farming, and spent every day in drunken stupors, letting the years slip by. Let's see how Shen 2.1kReads7.0Score160Shelves

   Reader note

   Wow, so beautiful!

3. 153 寒 A Poor Scholar’s Rise Through the Exams: My Father in the First Volume, Me in the Next 寒门科举，上卷老爹下卷儿 Mobei Zhou漠北舟Historical469k WordsCompleted A rise from poverty + imperial examinations + farming + political intrigue After transmigrating to ancient times, Gu Suifeng, a single man who just wants to lie flat, becomes the deadbeat father of three children. How can he keep living a quiet, carefree life with a family this poor? Huh? His father and all three children are pretty clever! Hahaha, then he'll just rely on them. Push them to work hard and have them back him up! 812Reads8.8Score105Shelves

   Reader note

   This is a good book. Interesting.

4. 154 键 Yang Tinghe on the Keyboard 键盘上的杨廷和 Little Bao Is So Nice小宝很奈斯Historical481k WordsCompleted [Yang Tinghe | Male-Centered Lead | Historical Epic | Romance and Marriage | Political Intrigue] Yang Tinghe, grand secretary of the Ming dynasty, recounts his romantic and political adventures in modern language, with a playful take on his own life. [Matchmaking Trip to Yunnan] Help Mu Cong put down the Xundian rebellion and bring the region under direct administration. [Wedding Night] My concubine climbed into my bed... [The Truth About Grain Transport] Men and women alike are beheaded. [The 14Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   A first-person perspective masterpiece by a 985 university literature PhD. The Prime Minister reveals his love life and struggles. Tight plot with no filler text, 4 episodes updated daily.

5. 155 重 Reborn in Dream of the Red Chamber as Jia Huan, the Concubine’s Son 重生红楼之庶子贾环 A Fisherman's Son Who Can't Swim不会游泳的渔民子弟Historical2.6M WordsOngoing A doctor transmigrates into the Jia household of the Jia family in Dream of the Red Chamber, becoming Jia Huan, the most useless son born to a concubine. Follow his efforts as he rises step by step, blooms like a lotus, escapes his predicament, and makes up for the story's many regrets. 69.3kReads9.1Score4.9kShelves

   Reader note

   All are examination essays

6. 156 小 The Daily Life of a Minor Official's Son Preparing for the Imperial Exams 小官之子科举日常 Ninth Day of the First Month良月初九Historical377k WordsCompleted [Woman Transmigrates into a Man + Imperial Exams + Farmer's Son + No Problematic Family Members + No Pocket Dimension + No Golden Finger] Lin He, a graduate student in history, transmigrates into the Great Qi, a dynasty that never existed in history, and goes from being a woman to a man. His family has nothing to its name: his father is a catlike academic prodigy, his mother a tigerlike farmer, and Lin He's life is a constant struggle. Fortunately, his father earned the jinshi degree early on, a 1.8kReads8.8Score130Shelves

   Reader note

   I have many more recommendations on my bookshelf.

7. 157 科 A Zhuangyuan Emerges from a Farming Family Through the Imperial Exams 科举农门出了个状元郎 September Jojo九月玖玖Historical608k WordsCompleted After finally making something of himself as an orphan, he opened his eyes in the darkness and found himself a five-year-old idiot in ancient times. From the start, the Husky System tricked him into going deep into the mountains, telling him to be independent and figure out how to survive there alone. To hell with that! I have a home and a family. There’s just one problem: this family is dirt poor! No worries. Getting rich and passing the imperial exams are well within his abilities! This is a s 365Reads6.9Score—Shelves
8. 158 买 I Bought a Bookboy to Take the Imperial Exam for Me. Now I'm Accused of Stealing His Honors? 买书童替本少科举，告我偷功名？ Stray Bullet流弹Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Transmigrated into a Book as a Cannon-Fodder + Embroidered Uniform Guard + Imperial Exams + Officialdom + Rooting Out Treacherous Ministers + Fighting the Tartars + Empress] Also known as: The Young Master Strikes Back Against His Fated Bookish Servant, Passes the Imperial Exams, and Saves China After transmigrating into the book as Lin Zhi, a young master destined to be cannon fodder, he finds himself caught in a ridiculous plot where his servant uses the young master as a stepping-stone in th 1.3kReads7.6Score145Shelves

   Reader note

   The young master defeats the destined pageboy, becomes the top scholar, and saves our great China.

9. 159 爱 The Mosquito Who Loves Gossip 爱听八卦的蚊子 Ling Shui Yibo凌水一波Historical265k WordsCompleted A mosquito with a passion for gossip unexpectedly transmigrates into a child in ancient times. Growing up surrounded by chatter, he develops a keen ear for people and their motives. On the path to the imperial examinations, gossip gives him a head start; as an official at court, rumors help him unravel mysteries. Though he spends his life navigating the storms of court politics, this unique talent lets him find a secure footing amid a treacherous world and write an extraordinary tale. 31Reads—Score—Shelves

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   The protagonist, Wang Wenzhuo, transmigrates from a mosquito to ancient times. He loves gossip, is well-read, insightful, and possesses a wandering spirit. His intelligence is the envy of many, and everyone wishes they had such a wonderful son.

10. 160 害 Afraid of Bug Bites, I Transmigrate to Take the Imperial Exams 害怕虫子咬，穿越考科举 Wind Tugs at the Clouds风挽云Ancient Romance414k WordsCompleted [Woman transmigrates into a man + imperial examinations + farming + family life] Song An’an was a brilliant lawyer who had worked hard through years of study and finally established herself in Shanghai. Before she could enjoy her apartment and luxury car, a sudden car accident sent her transmigrating back to an unknown dynasty. Given a second life in a poor farming family, she is lucky that her parents are young and capable, and her four older sisters dote on him. Song Anshun decides to settle i 537Reads6.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The rating hasn't been released yet, but it's definitely a great book with a 9-point review.

11. 161 本 I Only Wanted to Get By, but I Passed the Imperial Exams Six Times in a Row and Shocked the Emperor 本想混口饭，科举连中六元惊陛下 Moonlight in Motion月色流光Historical3.0M WordsOngoing (Alternate history + imperial examinations + heartwarming + everyday family life + one heroine) He Mingfeng transmigrated. The good news: The knowledge in his head was his golden finger. The bad news: He’d become the village idiot. His family was dirt poor, and his grandmother looked at him like he was a burden. A hellish start? No worries! The village idiot suddenly “came to his senses,” leaving the whole village stunned. He caught fish and set up a stall, and had just started making a little m 6.6kReads8.2Score591Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend nine novels where the male protagonist transmigrates to ancient times and participates in the imperial examinations!!! 👏👏👏💖💖

12. 162 农 Reviving the Farming Village 农门复兴 Icebound Gentleman冰封君子Historical158k WordsOngoing A high-ranking official from a farming family, wielding power over the court, with a cherished wife at home who grows crops and raises chickens. Lin Jingchuan, eldest legitimate son of the Grand Commandant’s household and young lord of the Tiger Warriors of Western Qi’s frontier. After being ambushed and falling off a cliff, he transmigrated into the body of Li Jinye, eldest son of the third branch of the Li family. Little did he know that Li Jinye had been in a vegetative state, completely para —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist, a farmer's son, is possessed by the spirit of a high-ranking official. He takes the imperial examination, returns to the court, and wreaks havoc. The only downside is that the protagonist's romantic life is a bit frivolous, hahaha.

13. 163 红 Dream of the Red Chamber: A Chancellor of Unmatched Grace 红楼：风华首辅 Painted Bridge by the Willow Smoke烟柳画桥Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [No System + intellectual battles + political intrigue + everyday life] Every line is stained with bitter tears, every page filled with absurdity. You might think this is merely a tale of infatuated, indulged young men and women behind closed doors, but who could know that the rise and fall of the world are all intertwined? Are the fortunes of the four great families destined to change? Is the dynasty beset by internal and external threats destined to fall? Must the path to a noble title and hig 43.7kReads9.2Score3.6kShelves
14. 164 科 Turning the Tables in the Imperial Exams: A Cat Swapped for the Crown Prince from the Start 科举逆袭：开局狸猫换太子 Fish Without Water鱼儿缺水Historical707k WordsOngoing [One-on-one romance + System + imperial examinations + historical fiction + transmigration to an alternate world] Chen Xiao was once the head of a modern family of martial arts practitioners. Who could have imagined that his fiancée and younger brother would betray him? After dying, he was born into the Great Wei dynasty and became the crown prince who had been switched at birth! On the road to success in the imperial examinations, Chen Xiao pushed forward with his indomitable spirit, repeatedly 12Reads7.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist is reborn as a prince and lives among commoners, where he is pampered by his adoptive parents. He studies diligently from a young age and makes remarkable progress in the imperial examinations, eventually becoming the top scholar.

15. 165 科 The Imperial Exams: From Poor Scholar to Shocking the Entire Court 科举：从寒门书生到惊爆满朝文武 Little Zhang Under the Night Lamp夜灯下的小张Historical166k WordsOngoing (Imperial examinations + farming + no System + transmigration) (Has a CP; the male lead is devoted and never flirts around) Though Landowner Lin's family is fabulously wealthy, every member of the clan is short, plump, and sturdy, looking like they were born lucky! But his son, Lin Bei, is strikingly handsome, tall and elegant, and stands out in any crowd. Gazing at his reflection in the water, Lin Bei couldn't help sighing: A man who isn't charming in his youth has wasted it. His wet nurse 786Reads—Score111Shelves

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    Come and take a look at this book

16. 166 赤 A Pure Heart Climbs the Ranks 赤子登阶 A Youngster Riding the Wind稚子乘风Historical551k WordsOngoing [Alternate World + Reincarnated as a Baby + Imperial Exams + Martial Arts + Everyday Life + No Golden Finger] Yang Yuan never imagined he’d wake up one day as a swaddled baby in ancient times. He never imagined that in this strange world, with no System, no pocket dimension, and no golden finger of any kind, he’d have to rely on himself, one step at a time: rolling over, crawling, standing, then memorizing the Thousand Character Classic. He began his studies at three, learned martial arts at fou 14Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a story about a protagonist who is reborn into a scholarly family and takes the imperial examinations. There are no cheat codes, no system, no talent for reading ten lines at a glance, and no repetitive steps like making salt, ice, sugar, glass, or cement. The protagonist relies entirely on his diligence day and night to pass the imperial examinations and enter officialdom.

17. 167 寒 The Poor Call Me Master, While the Righteous Condemn My Heresy 寒门尊我为师，清流怒斥邪说误人 Immortal Old Pi神仙老皮Historical150k WordsOngoing [Transmigration + Imperial Exams + Business + Court Intrigue + Daily Life + Rise from Humble Beginnings] Transmigrating is hell from the start: my mother died young, my father ran off, our family property was seized, and my sick grandmother and I were driven into a shack by our wicked relatives. How could I put up with that?! From the start, I split from the family, found powerful allies, and offered business plans that made us a fortune. I used a modern perspective to interpret the classics, an —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    If you're tired of those saintly male protagonists, check this out! The male lead is an anti-hero, a ruthless guy, and his face-slapping moments are incredibly hardcore. So what if he starts in hell? He's not going to suffer; he just gets a new father, never farms a day, and his career skyrockets in both the imperial examinations and business. Next step: move to the county town, live the life of a glamorous young master, and steadily pass the imperial examinations.

18. 168 吾 I Sing the Song of Mortals for You 吾为君吟凡人歌 Six Sons of Qingfeng青峰六子Historical552k WordsCompleted [Male-Oriented, Transmigration, Fictional Setting, Farming, Everyday Life, Imperial Examinations, No System, No Golden Finger, Rural Life, Rustic Setting, One Heroine, Not a Power Fantasy] Lin Zezu, an ordinary nobody from Blue Star, transmigrates to the fictional Wu Kingdom. He arrives just as the original body's father, a scholar, dies of illness. Since the original body's birth mother was a brothel girl, his stepmother and eldest half-brother in the Lin family never treated him well. After Ma 2Reads6.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is the kind of book that can be placed on a bookshelf.

19. 169 学 My Given Name Is Zhang Haogu 学名张好古 Listening to Water at Dongxi at Midnight东溪听水夜半更Historical2.4M WordsOngoing In Jinan Prefecture, Shandong, there lived a wealthy man. The rich man had only one son, named Zhang Haogu. Though he couldn't read, he passed the imperial examinations and entered the Hanlin Academy. Somehow, he even became a princess's husband. He only wanted to survive in a time of chaos, but had no choice except to rack his brains and find a way to end the war quickly. Yet war was everywhere: struggle, life and death, country and family. A man should be full of fiery spirit, riding through b 71Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A remarkable book from the late Ming Dynasty, where illiterate people can pass the imperial examinations [laughing and crying emojis]. It's over 1.4 Million words long. If you consider yourself a bookworm, come and take a look.

20. 170 农 The Farm Boy Prodigy Got Rich, Then Found Out His Scumbag Dad Was a Palace Exam Laureate 农家神童暴富后，发现渣爹是探花 Chengxi承熙Two Male Leads333k WordsOngoing [Farming] [Slow and steady] [Family life] [Imperial examinations] [Father and son love and hate each other] [Officialdom] After a high fever, seven-year-old Lin Qingyan gains the ability to see the unseen. He teaches the villagers to gather snails from foul-smelling ditches, and a pot of spicy stir-fried snails becomes a hit across the county! He takes the children to catch crayfish along the riverbank, and his thirteen-spice recipe makes even the county magistrate drool! He even turns duck part 10Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Look at the child, a born prodigy!

21. 171 乌 The Nameless Boy in Black, Retaking the Imperial Exams to Restore His Family’s Glory 乌衣少年今无名，重考科举振门庭 Holding an Umbrella, Seeking the Dao执伞问道Historical64k WordsOngoing [Alternate setting + imperial examinations + court politics + detective work + multiple heroines + no System] Born into a prestigious family whose numbers had dwindled, with no hope of a career in government. But they were rich. Xie Guan transmigrated to the Great Li Dynasty: “Brothers, this is exactly my kind of thing!” But why had he already lived through an entire lifetime? At twenty, a licentiate. At twenty-eight, a provincial graduate. At twenty-nine, a successful candidate in the imperial —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I must recommend one.

22. 172 寒 The Daily Life of a Vegetable Farmer’s Son Preparing for the Imperial Exams 寒门菜农之子的科举日常 Mo Zihan Jiang莫子涵江Historical971k WordsOngoing This is not a wish-fulfillment story! This is not a wish-fulfillment story! The body of seven-year-old invalid Zhao Sanxing houses the soul of a modern delivery driver. When he opens his eyes, he finds a family so poor they own almost nothing, and he is so weak he cannot even chop firewood. His parents are about to send him to a monastery to become a little monk, hoping he can “find a way to survive.” He is at a loss: transmigrating as a sickly boy at the bottom of society in ancient times is a 50Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist unexpectedly transmigrates into the body of a poor scholar, only to discover that nothing he does is effective. He has no choice but to open his books, study diligently, and participate in the imperial examinations—this is the only path suitable for him. [Note]

23. 173 大 The Ming Dynasty’s Literary Champion 大明文魁 Northern-School Yo-Yo北派溜溜球Historical718k WordsCompleted In the third year of the Xuande reign, Lin Wenyuan, a top history student, unexpectedly transmigrated into the body of a poor scholar in Kunshan County, South Zhili, Ming China. When he woke, he found himself in a home stripped bare, with a frail body left behind by the original owner's high fever after being caught in the rain. In an era when the imperial examinations were the only path to success, he had neither an illustrious family nor exceptional talent. All he could rely on was knowledge f 143Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    He transmigrated to a poor family in the Ming Dynasty. He didn't have any superhuman abilities. He relied on his solid knowledge and composure that was in line with the times to start from the county examination and gradually pass the prefectural and provincial examinations. The details of the preparation for each examination and the rules of the examination room are realistic and tangible. He didn't rely on exaggerated excitement. He relied entirely on his real talent and learning to make a comeback. The logical growth line is very relatable.

24. 174 状 The Top Scholar Is Real, and So Is the Beggar 状元是真的，乞丐也是真的 Half a Steamed Bun半片馒头Historical171k WordsOngoing Shen Mo, a Peking University history professor, wakes up one day as a nameless beggar. No household registration, no food, no shoes, and only a yellow dog so thin its skin clings to its bones. He spent thirty years studying the imperial examinations in his previous life, yet in this one he cannot even get near an exam hall. From a ruined temple to the Golden Throne Hall, from eating tree bark to earning top honors. The top scholar is real, and so is the beggar. 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    If you're looking for a good read, come on in and get ready to be attacked. The protagonist of this book starts as a beggar. No system, no cheat codes, no shoes. His first meal is tree bark. Later, he becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination. This isn't a typical wish-fulfillment novel; it's a true, hardcore underdog story. Every step is traceable, and every victory will make you want to slap your thigh in admiration. "The Top Scholar is Real, the Beggar is Real." If you don't like it, come back and scold me.

25. 175 大 Ming Dynasty: My Years as Zhu Yuanzhang's Heckler 大明，我给老朱当喷子的那些年 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical1.4M WordsCompleted If there’s anything you think could be improved, please point it out gently. I’ll make changes. Thank you. The protagonist’s official career: Investigating Censor, Supervising Censor, County Magistrate, Inspecting Censor and Deputy Censor-in-Chief, Censor-in-Chief, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Cautious Diligence and Minister of Personnel. Gu Chen opens his eyes and finds himself in the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, as a low-ranking remonstrance official. He ha 50.4kReads9.1Score3.5kShelves

    Reader note

    The imperial examination system was used to select officials.

26. 176 论 On the Imperial Exams, Who Knows Who'll Be the One Sweating? 论科举，谁卷谁还不知道呢 Corn Breakdance玉米扒舞Historical648k WordsOngoing In his previous life, he was visiting Dujiangyan with his mentor to draw up reinforcement plans when one misstep cost him everything. When Zhang Shi’an opened his eyes again, he was holding a little stick, facing a golden field of rice. The rice looked unusually small, though. Before he could figure out what he was doing, he spotted several sparrows feasting on the rice. His hands reacted even faster than his mind. He raised the stick and swung it at them. The thieving sparrows soon flew up into 489Reads7.7Score—Shelves
27. 177 皇 Ming Dynasty Natives Versus Transmigrators 皇明土著大战穿越众 Would You Dare Say Yes?叫你敢答应吗Historical3.7M WordsOngoing Current plot: A newcomer to officialdom enters the inner circle as a pawn, but refuses to settle for mediocrity and wants to break free of his constraints. By chance, he gets caught up in turmoil on the frontier, where three hundred battered soldiers rout thirty thousand northern invaders. Zheng Zhi, a household retainer of the Zhen Ding Guard under the Ming rear army's Governor's Office, dreams of himself sixty years in the future. From then on, the Ming Dynasty gains a peerless talent in both 146Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The Ming Dynasty, the imperial court, the imperial examination

28. 178 穿 After I Transmigrated, I Doted Only on My Gentle Little Husband 穿越后独宠温软小夫郎 Remembering the West Wind忆西风Two Male Leads732k WordsOngoing [Transmigration + Male-Male Romance + Pocket Dimension + Food + Imperial Exams + Both Pure, 1v1 + Little One] [Ancient Martial Arts Expert Transmigrates as the Seme × Handsome, Thoughtful, Gentle Uke] Zhao Shuyu, a powerful figure from an ancient martial arts family, opens his eyes to find himself a destitute scholar in ancient times. His parents are dead from the start, he’s drowning in debt, and his sickly little brother is crying out to be fed. In his previous life, Zhao Shuyu was busy as 32Reads7.3Score—Shelves
29. 179 农 A Farmer's Son's Road to the Imperial Exams in Ming Hongwu's Reign 农家子在大明洪武科举之路 Dragon Battle at the Stone Cauldron龙战石鼎Historical156k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + transmigration + no System + one heroine] An engineer unexpectedly transmigrates to the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, taking over the body of a farmer's son from the Jiang family in Qingshui Village, De'an County, Jiujiang Prefecture. Looking at his family's dilapidated thatched hut, bare of all furnishings, Jiang Xiangwen quietly considers his options. In an age when "all pursuits are inferior to studying," how can he change his fate through education and achieve the 1Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 180 名 The Day I Failed the Exams: Jiangnan in the Song Dynasty, Where Tears Took First Place 名落孙山日：宋时江南，泪作魁首 Tomorrow, First Incense明天上头香Historical370k WordsCompleted A liberal arts student from modern-day Jiangxi gets only an associate degree after twelve years of studying. In a fit of anger, they are reborn in the last era that belongs to liberal arts students. What sparks will fly? —Reads—Score—Shelves
31. 181 被 After My Engagement Was Broken, I Turned to the Imperial Exams and Became the Top Scholar 被退婚后，我转头科举当状元 Likes Little Swallow喜欢小燕子Historical189k WordsOngoing [Transmigration + no System + imperial examinations + feel-good power fantasy] Ma Chengji, a top scorer in the national college entrance exam with a photographic memory, transmigrated into the body of an eight-year-old poor boy in the Great Qian Kingdom. He started off in dire straits: his family had nothing, they lived on bran and wild greens, and the villagers mocked and ridiculed him. Su Jiuyuan, the daughter of a powerful minister, came with her mother to break off their engagement. “People —Reads—Score—Shelves
32. 182 我 Everyday Transmigration with My Sucker of a Brother 我和冤种兄长的穿越日常 Listening to the Wind Beneath the Eaves 1檐下听风1Historical330k WordsOngoing “Transmigration + farming + brothers + officialdom + making money + comedy” Zhou Jiahe and Zhou Jinhe, a pair of modern-day unlucky brothers, are joking and horsing around when a bolt of lightning suddenly sends them back to ancient times! All they see is a house stripped bare, empty pockets, and a bunch of awful relatives waiting to laugh at them. After three seconds of hugging each other and crying, the brothers roll up their sleeves and get to work! So they’re starting out as farmers. They’ve 6Reads—Score—Shelves
33. 183 我 I Hunt Down Transmigrators in Ancient China 我在古代抓捕穿越者 Evergreen Greens长青菜菜Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted The protagonist, Long Chen, transmigrates into an ancient world. But it turns out that world is full of transmigrators. They belong to many different factions. Long Chen, himself a transmigrator, receives a mission: eliminate every other transmigrator. … 3.4kReads—Score172Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this book to you.

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