Grinding Too Hard for the Imperial Exams Only Exhausted Me

When Shen Yu opened his eyes, he discovered that he had transmigrated into an imperial-exam novel and become the male lead's stepfather. The original owner was an idle wastrel who had agreed to marry the male lead's mother, who also had a child, so he could live off her. But soon after the wedding, the original owner showed his true colors. He lazed around, often beating and berating the male lead, and was later framed into developing a gambling addiction. In the end, he fell into a river and drowned. The male lead, however, was resilient. Despite the original owner's abuse, he studied hard, eventually placing first in the imperial examinations and becoming a powerful minister. Shen Yu: … Fortunately, at this point in time, the original owner's nasty nature had yet to show itself, and there was still time to change. He decided to raise both children to be successful, so he could lie flat and enjoy life in the future. Later, the Xing'an Shen clan became a renowned scholarly family. The story of “two father-and-son top scorers and three jinshi in one family” made countless scholars envious. Only Shen Yu had nothing to say. Wasn't he supposed to lie flat and enjoy life? [Reader's Guide] ① A child-raising story about the imperial examinations, set in an alternate world. ② The two children have different parentage and are not the biological children of the main couple. Growth and Comeback Writing Contest: Why this story is being entered: The protagonist transmigrates from the modern world. For various reasons, he swims against the current, striving tirelessly to rise from being a complete failure to passing the imperial examinations and entering government service. He establishes himself at court, contributes to the people, and elevates both his status and the value of his life. Theme: Treat others sincerely