The Son Who Built Up the Family (Imperial Examinations)

The Yu family's Fourth Branch in Xinan Village is a notorious, destitute household, infamous for miles around. When villagers pass their door, they have to burn mugwort to ward off bad luck.

Why is that?

Because the Yu family's Fourth Branch makes a living by marrying their sons into other families. Half the men in the family have married into other clans, bringing shame upon their clan and village. As the old saying goes, "When a family is poor and its sons are grown, they should marry into another family." But people still uphold the principle that even in poverty, one should never lose one's dignity. They refuse to let their descendants be classed as lowborn, alongside criminals and fugitives, and would rather die with honor than live in disgrace, so as not to bring shame upon their ancestors.

The Yu family's Fourth Branch is not ashamed of this. They are proud of it, accepting betrothal gifts and making a show of their good fortune.

Yu Chengyu is born into the Yu family's Fourth Branch. His biological father looks forward to him growing up so he can collect another betrothal gift.

After witnessing the miserable lives of his brothers who married into other families, Yu Chengyu is terrified. But in ancient times, fathers ruled over their sons, and filial piety came first. He cannot resist! With no way out, Yu Chengyu has a flash of inspiration. He displays his intelligence in front of the village school, and the old tutor is astonished by his talent and decides to protect him.

Seeing that there is no longer anything to gain, his father backs down. Yu Chengyu barely manages to stay at home, and from then on he studies day and night for the imperial examinations, climbing steadily upward.

A few years later, Yu Chengyu passes the examinations. He stands up for his poor mother, whose health has been ruined by repeated childbirth, and warns his father not to entertain any more wicked schemes, forcing him to behave himself. He also steps in as the family representative to support his several brothers who married into other families. With his own efforts, he changes the Yu family's Fourth Branch's notorious reputation and brings glory to the Yu clan!

A few years after that, a plaque honoring Yu Chengyu as the top scorer in the imperial examinations is carried into the Yu clan's ancestral hall, and the county magistrate personally oversees the construction of a memorial archway. His clan and villagers are astonished: "A good shoot can grow from rotten bamboo after all!"

Yu Chengyu rises swiftly through the ranks to become a high official, and the Yu family's fortunes keep improving.

People praise them: "The Yu family's Fourth Branch has produced a son who can restore the family!"

Synopsis screenshot taken on August 8. Any imitation that infringes on the original will be held liable!

Theme: When a family is poor and its sons are grown, they can restore the family