A Farmer’s Second Son Takes the Imperial Exams

Han Chongshu became the second son of a dirt-poor farming family. Their house was bare. His grandfather was an old scholar who had failed the xiucai exams his whole life; his father drank and beat people all day; his weak, helpless mother was bedridden. His older brother was a troublemaker, arrogant and domineering, while his younger brother was spoiled rotten. The neighbors next door came by every day to sow discord. He was the unwanted second son. Whether it was taking the imperial exams or carrying on the family line, those were the eldest son's responsibilities. Yet all the farm work fell to him. Every day he had to deal with a family as chaotic as a barnyard, where even the chickens' feathers counted as trouble.

His fiancee even broke off their engagement. She'd rather become an unregistered concubine to a vassal prince than marry into his family.

Han Chongshu thought it over and decided to keep taking the imperial exams. With his talent, he shouldn't be stuck as a farmer's son.

He never expected that, after making the journey to the capital and surviving the palace examination and numerous other hurdles, he'd be assigned to work as an assistant magistrate at the Court of Judicial Review.

The Court of Judicial Review expected Han Chongshu to examine cases with keen insight and deliver justice. He eventually became its minister.

Besides solving cases, Han Chongshu developed other skills too. The emperor asked about ghosts and gods, and he knew how to write ritual prayers. The emperor sought immortality, and Han Chongshu had studied chemistry in his previous life, so he could make pills. The imperial treasury was empty, and he'd also studied accounting, so he could balance the books! The nobles gorged themselves on food, so Han Chongshu made them weight-loss meals!

Han Chongshu originally thought he'd go down in history as a villain.

He never expected to become a virtuous minister remembered for the ages, even though he'd been handed the script of a powerful minister. He accidentally fulfilled the dream scholars had held for thousands of years: becoming a marquis and prime minister. He also inspired many students, who came to believe that knowledge could change their destinies.

At first, Han Chongshu had only wanted to escape poverty.

Theme: Knowledge changes your destiny.