A Military Officer's Son Rises to Success Through the Imperial Exams

My new novel, The Examination Path of a Poor Scholar from a Distinguished Family, is now underway and updating. Please add it to your collection. Wei Jingping transmigrated, becoming the youngest son born late in life to a family of retired military officers, one of whom held the rank of vice seventh grade. He had three older brothers. His eldest brother was a gifted archer who could hit a target a hundred paces away with his curved bow, so fearsome that the great eagles in the mountains fled with their chicks in the middle of the night. His second brother wielded a halberd and could send the village thugs who caused trouble flying half a mile. His third brother had the strength to move mountains and could chop half a mountain away with a single slash of his great saber. All three were exceptionally heroic. Yet the realm was peaceful, and the court favored civil officials over military ones. The men of the Wei family had no chance to put their martial skills to use and had to get by on meager stipends. The whole family wore coarse clothes and could barely afford two filling meals a day. The eldest brother was old enough to marry, but they couldn't even find him a bride who could read, much less one from the family of a poor scholar. Wei Jingping had just transmigrated and couldn't even hold a proper horse stance. He decided to stick to what he knew: study and earn a degree. At first, he only wanted to pass the examinations and get an easy job. But the more exams he took, the more he topped the rankings. He came first in all three rounds, earned a place on the imperial examination list, entered the Hanlin Academy, joined the Grand Council, and rose to power. Before he knew it, he had become a chancellor with power over the realm while still a young man. 1. An alternate Song-era setting with everyday life among the common people. The examinations are based on those of the Ming and Qing dynasties. No historical research required. 2. The main focus is his career. There is a female lead, but she appears late, and the romance is low-key. 3. A little food and infrastructure development. 4. The golden finger isn't much, and the story is slow-paced. Theme: Persevere, strive, and rely on yourself.