Imperial-Examination Stories About Scholars From Poor Families 寒门科举文

1. 1 科 The Road to Success Through the Imperial Examinations 科举之青云路 A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.2M WordsCompleted In his previous life, Lu Sheng was a spoiled rich kid. After being born into a farming family, he regains his memories at the age of three when his cousin pushes him to the ground over two pieces of pork crackling. Among the four paths of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, working for someone else is out of the question. With his poor knowledge of farming, he couldn't even support himself, so it looks like the imperial examinations are his only way to change his fate. From then on, Lu S 1.8kReads7.7Score130Shelves

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   From humble beginnings to becoming a top scholar, the journey of a farmer's son is arduous, filled with hardships, obstacles, love, hate, and passion.

2. 2 不 If I Don’t Take the Imperial Exams, Should I Just Farm? 不科举，难道种地？ You Suo有所Historical1.5M WordsCompleted The new novel Sequence: Creator is currently being serialized. Give it a read! It's a story about surviving the apocalypse. Thank you 🙏. [Alternate History] [Imperial Examinations] [Plagiarist] [Political Scheming] [Farming] [No System] The barbarians on all four frontiers: anyone who dares invade will see their nation destroyed, their people wiped out, and their descendants cut off. I want this golden age to be exactly as I envision it. History is long, but I need only make the slightest effort 5.5kReads8.6Score398Shelves

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   Farm boy, genius, fast-paced

3. 3 农 The Imperial Tutor's Road to the Civil Service Exams 农门帝师的科举之路 Ju He雎禾Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Imperial Examination, One-on-One Romance After an accident, a young man from the modern era transmigrated into the Great Qian Dynasty. Looking at his family’s dilapidated brick house, Qi Wenyu wondered how he would make a living from then on... 21.3kReads9.2Score2kShelves

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   The best imperial examination novel I've read so far is one where the whole family is united, there are almost no awful characters, the male lead is very ambitious, and it's a great read.

4. 4 都 Since I've Been Reborn, I'll Master Both the Pen and the Sword 都重来了，我当然要文武双全 Ximen Kun西门坤Historical1.6M WordsOngoing Set in an alternate early Ming Dynasty, this is a story about a science student who transmigrates. Simple middle-school physics experiments are enough to amaze everyone. He sparks a scientific awakening, founds a new school of thought, and brings materialism into Confucianism to accelerate social progress. You just need a little scientific knowledge. You can do it too, and there’s no golden finger!! 1.7kReads6.5Score101Shelves

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   It is based entirely on the imperial examination system of the early Ming Dynasty. The exam questions are very rigorous, but you need some patience to read them.

5. 5 书 Master Calligrapher? Poet Immortal? Chief Minister? That's Right, I'm All of Them 书圣？诗仙？首辅？没错，都是我 Sunlight on the River日照前川Historical834k WordsOngoing In his previous life, Cui Xian was a PhD in Chinese Language and Literature at a top-tier university. In this life, he transmigrated to ancient times, into a poor family with no connections: A destitute home, a pregnant mother, young siblings, an uncle who had failed the exams six times and was hopeless at studying, a grandmother so obsessed with imagining her son placing high in the imperial examinations that she had become delusional, and Cui Xian, who was only eight years old. Cui Xian: This 28.3kReads9.4Score2.7kShelves

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   1. In his past life, Cui Xian was a PhD in Chinese Language and Literature from a top-tier university. In this life, he transmigrated to ancient times—to a poor family, a pregnant mother, young siblings, a father and uncle who failed the imperial examinations six times, a grandmother who fantasized about her son passing with high honors, and himself, only eight years old. Cui Xian: This is too tragic! To change his fate, Cui Xian went out to work, becoming a page for a rich young master. The young master was a poor student, afraid of the examination hall, and came up with a terrible idea: to have Cui Xian take the imperial examination for him. As a result, Cui Xian not only passed the exam, but also went mad with rage. 2. Just as Wang Xuezhou was about to reach the pinnacle of his life, he transmigrated. Good news: in this life, his parents are loving, and his siblings are harmonious. Bad news: the whole family is tightening their belts to support his uncle's education, living in abject poverty, eating coarse food. However, before he could even quit, his parents quit first. Mother: "The school isn't run by my eldest brother's family, why can they go but our children can't?" Father: "I have no one to love me~ No one to care for me~ I'm just a little cabbage in the field~" Wang Xuezhou: "Grandpa, when I pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, our family will even have its own page in the genealogy, and you'll be the first in our village to be included."

6. 6 这 This Top Scholar Plays by His Own Rules 这个状元路子有点野 The Foundation of One's Life立身之本Historical2.3M WordsCompleted [Farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + lighthearted] My Parents Flipped the Table and Quit, So I Want to Take the Imperial Exams Too Just as Wang Xuezhou was about to reach the peak of his life, he transmigrated. The good news: in this life, his parents were loving, and his siblings got along. The bad news: the whole family was pinching pennies to fund his eldest uncle's studies. They had next to nothing and were living on coarse grain and wild greens. But before he could flip t 51.6kReads8.9Score6.4kShelves
7. 7 大 The Great Qi Marquis of One Step 大齐一步侯 A Single Thought of Nothingness一念无Historical846k WordsCompleted [Alternate history, airtight logic, a treat to listen to, multiple heroines, lighthearted daily life, the jianghu and court politics, love and hate, national and family vendettas...] A modern-day criminal investigator transmigrates into the body of a minor official in the State of Qi. At first, his only dream is to stay alive. But when foreign barbarians invade the Central Plains, slaughtering and pillaging until the kingdom falls and families are torn apart, he has no choice but to enter the fr 16.3kReads8.2Score984Shelves

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   A historical fiction novel of exceptionally high quality, perfect for both listening and reading. Clear logic, well-developed characters, rich plot, and tight writing. Not a formulaic, fast-paced story. Please enjoy! [Please follow][Please follow]

8. 8 科 The Imperial Exam Path to Success 科举助吾上青云 Glory Returned荣归Historical1.0M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into a family of farmers who also valued education, Bai Zimu had grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts to support, as well as seven older sisters whose dowries had to be prepared. To escape the fighting on the border, the entire family moved back to their hometown. Along the way, they lost two of his sisters, and he himself nearly died. He wasn't strong enough to carry heavy loads or even lift much. In this underdeveloped world, Bai Zimu thought it over and realized that 3kReads9.0Score229Shelves

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   Goodness gracious! Look at these! They'll satisfy your desires: 1. You transmigrate and become the apple of your family's eye, the only son with seven older sisters and grandparents who dote on you like a precious gem. Seeing this large family, and being utterly powerless, you have no choice but to study hard, pass the imperial examinations, and save up dowry money for your sisters. 2. You died at 23 in your previous life and transmigrated into the body of Huang Wenzhi, the son of the Huang family and your mother. As the saying goes, "Birds must flap their wings before they can fly high, and people must study before they can advance." The Huang family is harmonious, and seeing Huang Wenzhi's talent in school, they don't want such a gifted child to be wasted. They scrimp and save to support his education. 3. A female college student transmigrates into this fictional dynasty. During this time, she constantly tries to get along with him. Initially, she just wants to take care of her family, but later she wants to make everyone human. She'd rather eat meager rations herself than let anyone in the world go hungry or cold. 4. A top student in his previous life majoring in computer science, he transmigrated to a completely destitute family. He had almost nothing, except perhaps his wife and children. His wife had a little daughter, and looking at that timid, shy girl who wouldn't approach him, he didn't want her to suffer. I've only written the first four; the rest I'm too lazy to list, so feel free to choose if you're interested! If you could give me a like and comment, please! If you happen to have any posts you'd like to recommend, feel free to tag me!

9. 9 全 My Whole Family Supports My Imperial Exams, and I Rise to Great Heights 全家供我科举，而后青云直上 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical337k WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A bird must flap its wings before it can soar; a person must study before they can get ahead. Huang Zhiwen unexpectedly gets another chance at life, bringing the memories of his previous life with him as he slowly adapts to this new world. Here, he finds new people to care about and a new family. The Huang family is warm and close-knit, and they will do everything they can to support Huang Zhiwen in the imperial examinations. That leaves all the pres 761Reads8.4Score—Shelves
10. 10 科 I Came First in the Imperial Exams and Became a Just Official in Ancient Times 科举成状元，我在古代当青天 The Crown Prince Who Loves Radish Meatballs爱吃萝卜肉圆的王储Historical1.2M WordsCompleted An ordinary female college student is reborn in an imaginary ancient dynasty, where she becomes a man. As he struggles to adapt to this era, he sees the hardships of the common people, the extravagance of the powerful elite, the integrity of scholars, and the opportunism of politicians. This is a society ruled by a brutal class system. Unluckily for him, he has been reborn here, and all he wants is to live with dignity. Study, take the imperial examinations, become an official. At first, he only 1.2kReads8.5Score101Shelves
11. 11 寒 The Poor Scholar's Rise 寒门贵子 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical2.1M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the body of a penniless scholar, Jiang Feng thought about how his computer science degree from his previous life was utterly useless here… Then it occurred to him: “Of all pursuits, studying is the noblest. I’ll just have to grit my teeth and take the imperial exams!” He kept going, and when he suddenly looked back, he had risen to the highest offices, expanded the empire’s borders, and built an unprecedented legacy! P.S. The new book, A Poor Scholar of the First Rank, 34.2kReads9.1Score3.4kShelves
12. 12 首 The Chief Minister's Road to the Imperial Examinations 首辅的科举之路 Adoring You at Dawn and Dusk朝暮倾卿Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [No golden finger + No pocket dimension + Heartwarming family + No ridiculous characters] [The male lead works hard and climbs the ranks one step at a time through his own efforts] [The male lead is devoted; the female lead appears fairly late. The story begins with the imperial examinations and later moves into officialdom] [No forced stupidity, no self-righteous saint, and no fake innocent heroine] Xu Xingfeng, a county-level civil servant in a twenty-first-century town, suddenly finds himself 6.7kReads8.9Score616Shelves
13. 13 寒 The Scholar from a Poor Family 寒门状元 Gentleman of the Green Mountain青山君子Historical2.1M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the family of a common farmer, Ye Xuanmo arrives just as his paternal cousin passes the imperial examination. To revitalize the clan, his cousin invites a teacher to the family to educate the children. In an age when “all trades are base, and only studying is noble,” Ye Xuanmo wants nothing more than to pass the exams and change his family’s circumstances… 3.5kReads8.9Score331Shelves
14. 14 努 I Strive for the Imperial Exams, But My Slacker Dreams Never Change 努力考科举，咸鱼梦想从未改变 A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Imperial exams + everyday life + lighthearted] Lu Yang, a rich second-generation heir, wakes up one day as the youngest and most cherished son of the Lu family. This youngest son is a scholar, yet selfish and self-centered, turning a blind eye to his family's sacrifices and caring only about his own future. Lu Yang may be a slacker with little conscience, but he knows who's good to him. He keeps his dream of being a slacker tucked away and works hard to pass the imperial exams, hoping to become 17.8kReads9.1Score1.8kShelves
15. 15 女 A Woman Transmigrates as a Man: A Farmer’s Road to the Imperial Exams 女穿男：农家子的科举青云路 Shang Xinghe裳星河Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Female-to-male transmigration + imperial examinations + romance later on + remembered in history + founding the family tree] In her previous life, Qin Huan grew up in an orphanage and worked her way into a university degree. She landed a job at a major company and was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of success. Her only regret was never having much family to speak of. When she opened her eyes again, she had traveled from modern times to the past, and from a woman to a man. She had become 9.6kReads9.0Score1kShelves
16. 16 一 A Poor Scholar of Noble Character 一品寒士 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Single heroine, semi-fictionalized Tang Dynasty] In an era when the great aristocratic clans looked down on the imperial family, Zhao Quan was born to a farming family and entered school carrying the hopes of his parents and six older brothers. Farming was out of the question: even the village head’s family had no food to spare… So he had no choice but to take the imperial exams and become an official. 10.2kReads9.3Score888Shelves
17. 17 迎 After Marrying a Sweet Young Wife, I Worked Hard and Took the Imperial Exam 迎娶小娇妻后，我奋发图强考科举 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical1.1M WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A thorough understanding of the world is knowledge, and social savvy is good writing. Ren Junjie, a history graduate, suddenly finds himself in an unfamiliar world as the eldest legitimate son of the richest family in Xinchang County. A former wastrel, he turns over a new leaf and marries a lovely young wife. He rests every other day and works on the days in between, studying harder and striving to improve. With his deep knowledge of history, he purs 8.9kReads8.8Score715Shelves
18. 18 我 I Turned My Superstitious Father into the Chief Councilor 我把神棍老爹卷成首辅 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.7M WordsCompleted [Ensemble cast + imperial examinations + daily life + farming + court politics later on] Father and son join forces to build a Ming dynasty on which the sun never sets. Yan Xun transmigrates to the Ming dynasty and discovers that his father can do everything except study. His dad has so many secret identities, like an onion with layer after layer to peel back. Huh! If I push Dad hard enough to make him Grand Secretary, can I become a Junior Grand Secretary? The filial son Yan Xun sells everythin 22.8kReads9.5Score2.7kShelves
19. 19 我 I Turn My Life Around Through the Imperial Exams 我靠科举逆袭人生 Corn Breakdance玉米扒舞Historical808k WordsCompleted When Li Jingxing wakes up, he finds himself in an unfamiliar place. Around him are crude huts and shabby furniture, and the air carries a faint smell of straw. Looking down, he sees that he is wearing ragged clothes and a pair of straw sandals. All of it leaves him utterly confused. “How did I end up here?” Li Jingxing wonders. Just then, a burst of noise breaks through his thoughts. 3kReads8.8Score230Shelves
20. 20 为 To Avoid Getting Beaten, I Started Studying for the Imperial Exams 为了不挨打，开始考科举 Yu Su鱼素Historical1.4M WordsOngoing One day, Shen Qingyun becomes the youngest son of a farming family and thinks he can spend his whole life as a freeloader. But then disaster strikes, and he faces a dire predicament: His eldest brother went off to take a temporary job, but came back dead, wrapped in a straw mat; Other families in the village have several sons, but the Shen family has only him, their sole heir; His shrewish, favoritism-prone mother, his mistreated nieces, and his stooped, adopted father all depend on him; Bearing 1.4kReads8.6Score149Shelves
21. 21 科 The Imperial Exams: Soaring Ninety Thousand Miles 科举之扶摇直上九万里 Yi San Du一三渡Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Li Yanqing transmigrated to the Great Qi, a fictional dynasty. He told himself, “No need to worry. I’m a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. I can make a good life for myself anywhere.” But his father died, leaving behind a final wish: Li Yanqing should study, take the imperial exams, become an official, and make something of himself. To fulfill his father’s wish, Li Yanqing embarked on a decade of arduous study. Li Yanqing thought that since fate had brought him here, he ought to make use o 2.1kReads8.7Score145Shelves
22. 22 寒 A Proud Son of a Poor Family 寒门骄子 Swallow's Nest Eagle燕窝鹰Historical1.1M WordsCompleted “Transmigrated to ancient times? Don't panic. I was a chemistry PhD in my previous life. Surely I can invent a few things this era has never seen and make a fortune, right?” Watch as the hero puts his knowledge from his previous life to good use, amasses an astonishing fortune, earns the title of top scholar, marries a beautiful heiress, reaches the pinnacle of life, and changes the entire world... 14.9kReads9.0Score1.4kShelves
23. 23 穿EN Transmigration: The Endless Road to Pampering My Husband 穿越：宠夫之路无尽头 Clouds Shift and Stars Turn云移星转Two Male Leads376k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + farming + raising kids + doting on his husband + imperial exams + sweet romance + devoted couple + one-on-one romance + cozy daily life] Rong Zheng, heir to a family of ancient martial artists, wakes up to find that his soul has transmigrated into the body of a down-and-out scholar with the same name. While he's still standing there in confusion, a handsome young man with delicate features offers him a bite to eat. Rong Zheng falls in love at first sight, and is completely smi 6.1kReads9.3Score795Shelves
24. 24 卖 Selling Vegetables and Studying, Then Becoming the Top Scholar 卖菜读书，结果高中状元 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.1M WordsCompleted After Shen Qingfeng dies alongside the Zombie Emperor in the apocalypse, he transmigrates to an alternate dynasty called Great Chu and becomes a child in Ning'an Village. The boy, nicknamed Dog Egg, is frail from birth, suffers from heart disease, and has a lowly name. Luckily, his proper name is Shen Yu'an. After studying for a few months with the elders, Shen Yu'an decides to take the imperial examinations, only to discover that his ancestors were exiles, and the descendants of exiles for thre 5.5kReads8.9Score573Shelves
25. 25 咸 The Imperial Examination Path of a Lazybones in Ancient Times 咸鱼古代的科举路 Bright Moon over the Nine Provinces九州明月Historical539k WordsOngoing In the modern world, Gu Qin spent every day exhausting himself over work, slaving away for his company until one day he suddenly died at his desk. But what he never expected was that he would be reincarnated. In his new life, his grandparents doted on him, his parents cherished him, and his older sister looked after him. Gu Qin only wanted to lie flat. Luckily, his family was well-off, so he figured he could just take it easy this time. Unfortunately, misfortune can strike at any moment. To avoi 127Reads6.4Score—Shelves

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    The latest and most captivating time-travel/alternate universe/ancient historical/imperial examination novel: ① Night has fallen, and the lanterns are lit. In Zhenjiang County, inside a courtyard house with blue stone tiles, servants and maids bustle about, and every now and then a young maid carries out a basin of water stained with blood from a room. Gu Qin is a modern person who died suddenly and was reincarnated as an infant. In this life, he comes from a wealthy family, is pampered by his grandparents, loved by his parents, and cared for by his sister. He originally wanted to live a carefree life. Unfortunately, misfortune can strike at any time. In order to avoid being bullied, he embarks on the path of the imperial examination in this ancient world to obtain fame and fortune for protection.

26. 26 农 A Farm Boy’s Journey to the Imperial Exams 农家娃的科举生涯 Cai Xincheng蔡欣程Historical434k WordsCompleted Li Shan is born into ancient times with memories from before, but he has amnesia. Even so, the belief that he must study, despite growing up poor, is etched into his bones. In the end, this impoverished family, mocked by everyone, really does produce an official. He brings prosperity to the community and grows into a great figure renowned throughout the history books... A heads-up: The author came up with many of the settings, systems, and so on on the spur of the moment. Readers who care about 233Reads6.5Score—Shelves
27. 27 科 The Imperial Exams: I Conquered the World with Poetry 科举，我靠诗文名动天下 Whose Great Sage Is This?谁家大圣Historical674k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + no romance + alternate world + poetry and prose + fortune-telling by characters + sixfold honors in the imperial examinations + infrastructure + political intrigue] An imperial-examination story. Sheng Yu transmigrates to ancient times as a three-and-a-half-year-old child. He begins his studies right away, enters the finest academy in Jiangnan, then advances through the prefectural school and a tribute recommendation to the Imperial Academy. Step by step, he grows up and 1.2kReads8.4Score106Shelves

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    The male protagonist is vengeful and sharp-tongued; it's a satisfying read. Even though it's not very long yet, it's worth waiting for.

28. 28 穿 Transmigrated to the Countryside: A Young Farmer's Road to the Imperial Exams 穿越之农家独苗苗的科举之路 Zhang Rubai张如白Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted [Born into the Past + Farming + Imperial Exams + Fleeing Famine + Warfare] The slow-paced everyday life of a boy from a rural family in ancient times! Zhang Ping'an gets a new lease on life when he transmigrates to an ancient farming family. Fortunately, they are fairly well-off, so no one has to go hungry. He has six older sisters, and he is the only boy his parents had long hoped for. His parents favor sons over daughters, and all six sisters are fierce. He thought he was in for a story about 29kReads8.7Score2.8kShelves
29. 29 为 To Avoid Planting Rice, I Work Hard to Pass the Imperial Exams 为了不插秧，努力考科举 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [The short drama adaptation is now streaming] A modern SSS-rank researcher dies suddenly and transmigrates to the Great Xing Dynasty. His health is so poor that he's not allowed to pick rice in the fields until he's six. Sunstruck and light-headed, Li Jing decides that farming with this body is a risky business, so he immediately resolves to study for the imperial examinations. That's what he's good at; the transplanting can be left to the professionals! The following year, now named Li Yiqing, 23kReads9.3Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Rise from humble beginnings: making money through education, passing the imperial examinations, and becoming a top scholar.

30. 30 启 Your Majesty, the Top Scholar Is Slacking Off Again and Again 启禀陛下，状元郎他又又又开摆了 Fang Jinxi方锦溪Historical2.8M WordsOngoing [Imperial Exams and Farming]+ [Family Matters]+ [Building Wealth]+ [Scheming]+ [Alternate Ancient Setting] Lu Qilin, a modern enthusiast of intangible cultural heritage, unexpectedly transmigrated. When he woke up, he had become an eight-year-old village boy with a dim mind, whose mother had died young and whose father had disappeared. Fortunately, his grandparents and uncle and aunt truly loved him, and his two older cousins genuinely cared for him. It wasn't the worst start imaginable. Unfortu 13kReads8.5Score1.4kShelves
31. 31 过 With a Photographic Memory, Isn’t It Only Natural I Came First in the Imperial Exam? 过目不忘，我中状元正常吧？ Mountaineer登山客Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Lu Chengan forgot to drink Granny Meng’s soup. One day, he transmigrates to a remote mountain village in the Great Zhou dynasty and becomes the second son of the Lu family’s second son. To take the imperial examinations, Lu Chengan has no choice but to urge his father to better himself. Before he knows it, his father becomes an official. Lu Chengan: Does he still need to work hard? 47.9kReads8.6Score5.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! A brand new, incredibly captivating time-travel, alternate history, and ancient imperial examination novel: ① The story follows the protagonist who travels from modern times to ancient times, becoming Shen Yu'an. He only knows that in the eleventh year of the Anhe era of the Great Chu Dynasty, his great-grandfather died remonstrating with the emperor, and the entire clan was exiled to a harsh frontier, barring them from taking the imperial examinations for three generations. Fortunately, Shen Yu'an is the fourth generation. Follow the protagonist as he learns to read and write, participates in the imperial examinations, and changes his own destiny. "To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations."

32. 32 理 A Top Science Student Takes the Imperial Exams? His Majesty Is Stunned by His Brilliance 理科状元考科举？强到朕傻眼 Lucky Lin招财林Historical2.2M WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + court politics + farming + alternate history + daily life + lighthearted + no romance] Li Su had barely had time to savor becoming the top scorer in the national college entrance exam when he transmigrated as the youngest son of the Li family. His whole family doted on him, even though they lived on coarse grain and vegetables, and supported his studies. The original owner had been led astray by his classmates. Selfish and only interested in having fun, he had ruined him 88.6kReads8.9Score8.7kShelves

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    I highly recommend this book!

33. 33 举 Your Whole Family Hopes You'll Pass the Scholar Exam, but You Top All Six? 举家盼你中秀才，你六元连中？ A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.5M WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations in the early chapters + farming + everyday life + lighthearted + court politics later on] In his previous life, Shen Zhou was in poor health and cultivated himself through a quiet, disciplined lifestyle, becoming rather indifferent by nature. Then he transmigrated to an ancient peasant family. The entire Shen family pooled their resources to support the original owner’s studies, hoping only that he would pass the county-level examination and become a licentiate. Sadly, the 14.7kReads8.7Score1.4kShelves

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    🐬🐬 Imperial examination + daily life + lightheartedness + imperial court: Shen Zhou, who has a congenital illness, transmigrates into the body of a peasant boy. Good news: healthy body, all limbs intact. Bad news: burdened with debt, failed the imperial examination three times. Shen Zhou: an unfavorable start. The teacher tells Shen Zhou to go home and think things through before returning to school. He does understand. He returns to school, but becomes his classmates' nightmare. Family, who understands? This person's efforts are sporadic. The most infuriating thing is, he actually passed the exam! His classmates shed tears. Shen Zhou helplessly shrugs: He doesn't care about passing the imperial examination; he's not a scoundrel.

34. 34 科 The Imperial Exams: From Three-Year-Old Farm Boy to Imperial Tutor 科举：从三岁农家子到一代帝师 Flower Shadows Beneath the Lamp灯下花影Rural Life502k WordsOngoing Shen Hengzhi, a modern graduate student in history, died suddenly and was reborn as Shen Shitou, a farmer’s son. In this Great Qi, social rank was rigid, and it was difficult for those from humble backgrounds to rise above their station. The Shen family had barely enough to get by, surviving on three mu of poor farmland. They could not even afford paper and ink for practicing calligraphy. When he was three, Shen Shitou used a dry branch to write in the dirt beneath the old locust tree. He caught 62Reads—Score148Shelves

    Reader note

    The scene depicts teenagers partnering in a business and dividing the profits, and the children's reactions to large sums of money are realistically portrayed, lacking the worldly wisdom and sophistication of adults.

35. 35 布 The Commoner Chancellor, Xia Ren 布衣宰相虾仁 Floating Life Returns to the Void浮生归墟Historical920k WordsOngoing After a sudden car accident, Xia Ren, a double PhD in history and literature, transmigrated as a dying seven-year-old peasant child in the Great Jing Dynasty, a realm never recorded in history. His family had nothing, but that couldn't diminish the knowledge and experience he had accumulated over two lifetimes. His memories of poring over ancient texts in his previous life remained crystal clear. The classics, historical records, institutions, and lessons of dynastic rise and decline were all at 336Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I've received a lot of suggestions from readers recently, so I'll start from the beginning and make slight adjustments to each chapter. Please take a look, and feel free to offer any good suggestions. Thank you!

36. 36 寒 The Imperial Exam Routine of a Poor Butcher's Son 寒门屠户之子的科举日常 Diki DaddyDiki粑粑Historical3.3M WordsOngoing The Wang butcher family is full of burly men, all tall, broad, and muscular, like a whole den of reincarnated black bears! But their youngest son, Wang Sanniu, is the odd one out: frail, delicate, and liable to fall over in a breeze. Standing beside his family, he looks like a little fox that wandered into a bear’s den. Butchering pigs? The moment pig’s blood splashes over him, he faints! Farming? The hoe is taller than he is! With the family fearing he’ll become a good-for-nothing, his mother m 188.1kReads9.0Score24.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These two books are quite good; the plots are well-developed, and the storylines are reasonable and realistic. Recommended. [OK]

37. 37 全 My Clan Raised Me to Greatness, So I Gifted Them Purple Robes 全族扶我青云志，我赠族人朱紫袍 Uncle Jianghe江河大爷Historical2.2M WordsOngoing After dying suddenly from overwork, workaholic Chen Yan is reborn as the only son of a newly born provincial graduate in the Great Liang Dynasty. His father is successful, so Chen Yan promptly decides to lie flat and enjoy the good life, with food brought to him and clothes laid out for him. But when he learns at the age of six that he was switched at birth with a farmer's child, his life takes a turn. The day the fake young master returns to the Chen family, he goes out to work in the fields an 214.1kReads9.3Score21.3kShelves
38. 38 农 An Ambitious Country Boy's Life in Ancient Times 农家小子的古代上进日常 The Hibernating Donkey冬眠中的驴Historical6.2M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the body of a farmer's son in ancient times, a poor student had no choice but to embark on the long road of the imperial examinations to improve his family's life. He sought neither wealth and status nor a high salary or lofty office in this life. All he wanted was to protect his family and give them a peaceful life. 40.7kReads9.2Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book is highly recommended. It's a male-oriented novel, not a harem story, and the male lead steadily rises in status—amazing but not exaggerated. Most importantly, the male lead's family is harmonious, without many unnecessary conflicts. The second book, I remember it being a bit exaggerated, but I thought it was readable, good for when I'm looking for something to read. However, I don't really like books with family conflicts. The third book is also good; you can read it if you're looking for something to read.

39. 39 布 A Commoner Conquers the Nine Provinces 布衣镇九州 Cai Bibi菜比比Historical2.3M WordsCompleted Zhao Ce transmigrates to the Ming Dynasty, becoming an impoverished scholar with a terrible reputation. He also discovers that he borrowed money to get married, then squandered it all, and ended up buying a pitiful little cripple on the way back to make up the numbers. The little cripple has mismatched eyes and is treated like a monster. Zhao Ce: What kind of miserable life is this? A disastrous start? But when he takes another look at the little cripple, so tiny and thin, blinking those big eye 26.2kReads9.2Score2.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I would call the first two books the best of the poor scholar imperial examination novels, with realistic examination plots! The last one is a sweet romance novel about the imperial examination system, both are very good!

40. 40 布 A Humble Scholar in Commoner's Clothes 布衣小书生 Wounded by the Fading Blood残血凌伤Historical3.3M WordsCompleted He went up the mountain to look for a sheep, accidentally fell off a cliff, and woke up to find himself reborn as a baby in an unknown dynasty. He looked around and discovered that his family was dirt poor: they had too little to eat, too little to wear, and lived in a mud house where rain poured outside and dripped inside. He had an older sister and a younger sister. He had thought that, with his modern soul, he could surely make a brilliant life for himself, but he never expected fate to deal 921Reads7.4Score110Shelves

    Reader note

    Story summary: These are all texts related to the imperial examinations!

41. 41 大 The Swordbearer of Great Yu: I Become a Sage Through My Phone 大虞执剑人我靠手机成圣人 Shanyang Assorted Snacks山阳杂拌儿Eastern Fantasy603k WordsCompleted [Confucian Dao] [Literary Dao] [Martial Dao] [Immortal Dao] [Poetry] [Douyin Mall] In the Great Yu Realm, the Literary Dao reigns supreme. Scholars cultivate literary energy, grow literary roots, build literary palaces, forge literary courage, open the path of literature, attain literary hearts, and carve out literary realms... A young man transmigrates into the Great Yu Realm, rising from obscurity and being reborn through adversity. His poetry stuns the world, his strategy is unparalleled, and 2.8kReads8.4Score239Shelves

    Reader note

    His soul transmigrated to another world, becoming the seventh young master of a fallen noble family. He entered the path of literature through poetry and reached the Dragon Elephant Realm of martial arts overnight. He cultivated the three paths simultaneously: literature, martial arts, and immortality.

42. 42 正 A Proper Exam Candidate, and You Want Me to Have More Children, More Blessings? 正经科举人，你让我多子多福？ Little Cabbage Treasure小白菜宝Historical126k WordsOngoing Imperial exams + System + Brother Cao + Comedy + Court politics + Struggle for supremacy Gu Zhengchuan had it rough. He was a delivery driver who got hit while rushing to finish his orders, and transmigrated to ancient times. He soon discovered that this was a society that valued civil officials far more than military ones, and the imperial exams were the only way for an ordinary person to rise in the world. But how was a vocational-school graduate like him supposed to pass the imperial exams? T 60Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This was a good idea: a poor scholar taking the imperial examination, full of passion!

43. 43 重 Reborn: A Farmer's Son Plots to Enter a Private School from the Start 重生，农家子开局谋划去私塾 Running on a Snail骑着蜗牛跑步Historical266k WordsCompleted Heaven gives the protagonist a chance to live his life over. See how he works hard to take the imperial examinations and raise his family's standing. “Son, how are you feeling? How did you end up in the river? And why were you playing by the river in the first place? Have you forgotten what your mother told you?” Li Mei fired off a string of questions. “Mother, I just happened to wander down to the river. Do you believe me?” 35Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A slow-burn novel about the imperial examination system, quite good.

44. 44 寒 The Road to the Imperial Examinations for a Poor Scholar 寒门科举之路 Moon Glutinous White月糯白Historical821k WordsCompleted After surviving alone in the apocalypse for three years, Yang Han is betrayed by his teammates and scratched by a zombie. Unwilling to turn into one and get his head blown off, he takes his own life. To his surprise, he transmigrates into the body of a farm boy, the only son of a family with a thousand acres of fertile land. He can't handle the backbreaking work in the fields, and since all professions are inferior to studying, he has no choice but to set out on the path to the imperial examinat 193Reads8.6Score114Shelves
45. 45 落 The Fallen Noble Scion 落魄贵子 Person Among Things物中人Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Reborn in a duke's household on the verge of ruin, with everyone despising her and her stepmother suppressing her! She must first survive if she hopes to become the noble benefactor who rebuilds a great family from the ruins! 368Reads7.9Score—Shelves
46. 46 寒 A Scholar from a Humble Home 寒窗读书人 Ding Kai, Who Loves Pepper-Salt Rice Dumplings爱吃椒盐豆粽的丁凯Historical1.2M WordsCompleted Bystanders: Xu Sandan’s life is over (watching the drama unfold…) Family: What’s going to become of Sandan? (worrying…) Xu Heng (Xu Sandan): My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven’s (striving…) A story about Xu Heng, who transmigrates into a desperate situation from the start. With a disabled body and a poor family, he fights against a cruel fate step by step through his own efforts, ultimately turning his life around. An uplifting story about farming, cozy everyday life, and hard work. P.S. Ther 4.3kReads8.6Score331Shelves
47. 47 大 The Literary Champion of Great Song 大宋文魁 Riding a Donkey骑驴Historical1.7M WordsCompleted Zhang Tangqing, the young owner of a shop in the ancient city of Qingzhou, transmigrates to the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, an era bright with stars. Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Han Qi, Bao Zheng, Di Qing, and a host of other great figures all make their entrances. See how Zhang Tangqing makes his mark in the Great Song, becomes its most dazzling literary talent, and leads the dynasty down the path to wealth and strength. 2.7kReads8.9Score282Shelves
48. 48 大 The Great Xuan Scholar 大玄读书人 Holding the Moon手捧月亮Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted [Traditional slow-burn + long-term foreshadowing + Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, ghosts, demons…] Ning Jin transmigrates to the vast land of the Xuan Kingdom. After living there for more than a decade, he is astonished to discover that Confucians, Daoists, Buddhists, demons, and ghosts all coexist in this world. From then on! Drawing on the poetry and writings from his past life, Ning Jin steps onto the Confucian path. As he gradually adapts to this wondrous cultivation world, he makes another 28.2kReads7.9Score1.9kShelves
49. 49 开 From the Start, I Cut Down My Kin, Top the Imperial Exams, and Slay My Way Through the Court 开局先灭亲，科举中状元杀穿朝堂 Yun Huang云凰Historical578k WordsOngoing [Historical fantasy + imperial examinations + transmigration + rebirth + court politics + power struggles] Zhao Jingyu, a screenwriter with a modest reputation in the entertainment industry, watched a video about ancient male entertainers and had the misfortune of transmigrating into the body of one. He has no intention of becoming a helpless victim for others to bully. Anyone who picks on him gets wiped out! His shameless grandfather covets his body? Wiped out! His corrupt second uncle aids and 343Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Check out this book! It's a unique time-travel novel about the imperial examinations. A poor child learns to be independent early, unexpectedly becomes wealthy, and eventually becomes the top scholar in the imperial examinations, conquering the capital with unparalleled glory. [Admiration][Laughs]

50. 50 我 I, Sun Shan, and the Imperial Examinations 我，孙山，科举 Ximen Qizi西门七仔Ancient Romance4.7M WordsOngoing “Imperial exams + transmigration + farming + exams + no space System” “Romance included, devoted male lead. The female lead is his childhood sweetheart, but she appears infrequently. Romance is not the main plot.” “The male lead rises step by step through hard work and good luck.” “The male lead is no good at scheming, but he gets things done and has technical skills.” “The imperial examination system is based on the Ming and Qing dynasties.” After an accident, he is transmigrated into the womb 47.9kReads8.8Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    🍀🍀The protagonist transmigrates to an ancient world, but he's from a farming family. Seeing his family working hard and still having to serve in the military, the protagonist doesn't want to live the same life as his parents. He decides to strive to study and take the imperial examination. Watch how the protagonist overcomes these difficulties! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

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