In the era of small peasant economy, among the four classes of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, agriculture was the foundation of the country.

　　Emperor Kang Jing asked, and the runner-up replied, telling him about the harvests of his family’s fields when he was studying and how hard his father worked. He was studying in the provincial school, and every time the rice was harvested, he felt very guilty for not being able to help his parents with farming.

　　Gu Zhao dug this out of his memory, and guessed that the second place candidate might have said this sincerely, or it might have been to win the emperor Kang Jing’s favor. Who knows? Anyway, the emperor Kang Jing valued filial piety, and after hearing the second place candidate’s words, he was very moved, so he specially approved a July “agricultural holiday” for the poor peasant boy.

　　As for the runner-up who pioneered the agricultural holiday, he was admitted to the Hanlin Academy with the third place and is now a second-rank official.

　　He is the idol of all farm boys in the world.

　　The original body didn’t remember much about the Li Zhouzhou family, but the deeds of this master were very clear and impressive. Unfortunately, a few years later, this master Chu was beheaded for corruption, bribery, and forming a clique for personal gain.

　　Speaking of agricultural holidays, Gu Zhao praised Zhu Xiucai for having the demeanor of Lord Chu.

　　Although Mr. Zhu was happy in his heart, he could not admit it on his face. He said modestly that he was not as good as Lord Chu in any way and needed to work hard to improve himself. He hoped to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible so that his parents and wife would not have to work in the fields to tire themselves out.

　　Only those who passed the imperial examination were qualified to be officials, which meant they had truly turned their lives around and could be addressed as “Jun Ren Lao Ye”. Of course, the descendants of the noble class whose ancestors had been blessed by the imperial examination were not included.

　　Just like Zhu Xiucai, his mother aged ten years to support his studies, and her son was unable to take care of her, so he went to school alone. If Zhu Xiucai’s family was better off, such as being a landlord, he could move his family to the prefecture or county to accompany him to study.

　　On the way back, Gu Zhao was thinking about this.

　　If he passed the examination and became a scholar, it would be necessary for him to enter the provincial school. Only by going there could he gain more knowledge and make more friends.

　　He was asked to go to school alone.

　　”Zhou Zhou~” Gu Zhao pulled his wife’s hand and hummed.

　　Li Zhouzhou listened to his husband’s sticky voice, with a smile in his eyes, and hummed, and asked in a gentle voice: “What’s wrong, husband?”

　　”I am a wife’s treasured man. I can’t bear to leave my Zhou Zhou. I can’t live without Zhou Zhou.”

　　Although Li Zhouzhou didn’t understand what his husband meant by wife and treasured man, he understood it later. He felt sweet inside and first hummed, then said, “I won’t leave my husband either.”

　　The two of them walked back hand in hand like sticky candy. Fortunately, there was snow in the winter, and the fields were empty.

　　Gu Zhao made up his mind that before he took the imperial examination for the title of scholar, his family would first save up a sum of money to cover the expenses of moving to the prefecture or county.

　　As for the question of whether you can pass the exam in one try?

　　That won’t affect the family’s ability to make money. Just make the money first, then we’ll talk about it later.

　　There are two ways to make money at home. One is to sell food and rely on the land. The other is to do business. Putting business aside for now, Gu Zhao thought of the fertilizer that Wang Shitou mentioned when he came to his house a few days ago.

　　Don’t apply fertilizer to dry fields because there is no fertilizer to apply.

　　Farmers know that manure is a good thing, but it is scarce. There are often more than ten acres of land. Even for Wang Shitou’s family of nine, the manure they save in a month would not be enough for one acre of land, right?

　　Gu Zhao had no idea, so he went back and took Zhou Zhou to see where his farm was. Li Zhou Zhou doted on his husband, and he just wanted to see the farm and take a detour. What was the big deal?

　　When they reached the ridge of the field, Li Zhouzhou pointed and said, “Sir, this is our ten acres of dry land. The paddy field is near the river, not here.”

　　Gu Zhao looked at the fields that stretched as far as the eye could see.

　　OOO!!!

　　And this is only ten acres!

　　”Zhou Zhou, you have worked so hard in the past.” Gu Zhao touched the calluses on his wife’s hands.

　　Li Zhouzhou had never thought about whether it was hard or not before. Everyone did it the same way. They were happy when the crops had a good harvest. They were tired, but they had to do it anyway.

　　”It will be fine after this busy period.”

　　”We’ve had plenty of rain and snow this year. When the spring thaws next year, the harvest will be good.”

　　Gu Zhao said: “Zhou Zhou, if I have a way to increase the yield of crops in the fields, oh, that is, the harvest, do you believe me?”

　　Farmers rely on the fields for their livelihood, and no one would dare to believe what a scholar and layman says.

　　”Can my husband really come up with such a good idea?” Li Zhouzhou asked seriously. Looking at his husband, he added, “If you say it can be done, I will believe you.”

　　He knew that his husband was not the kind of person who would mess around with the crops in the fields.

　　His wife really trusted him unconditionally. Gu Zhao was happy, and seeing that there was no one around, he went over to his wife Zhou Zhou and said, “My wife, you are so good~” He didn’t dare to do anything in broad daylight, as Zhou Zhou would be embarrassed.

　　He is thick-skinned and not afraid.

　　But outside, it is better to have some sense of propriety. Gu Zhao just held Zhou Zhou’s hand, shook it, and said with a smile: “I will think about it when I go back. There are some things I need to ask Dad and you.”

　　”good.”