Five points—he actually wanted to see what it was all about.

Gu Qingyan glanced toward the kitchen. The two sisters were busy cooking; the fire had just been lit, but the pot hadn’t started boiling yet.

He sat down at the table, propping his head with his hand and closing his eyes. “Receiving.”

[Beginning to receive Gu Tongsheng’s obsession.]

A man appeared, dressed plainly but with an undeniable scholarly aura, slightly worn-looking, with a pair of deep, profound eyes.

At just one glance, Gu Qingyan confirmed that the man before him was his biological father—Gu Tongsheng—whom he had never met.

Their eyes were nearly identical.

Gu Tongsheng sighed deeply and spoke: “My entire life, I only reached the status of ‘Tongsheng’ (a preliminary scholar). I sought but never obtained more; all I could do was entrust my hopes to my son.”

Through those deep eyes, Gu Qingyan saw Gu Tongsheng’s whole life.

As the youngest son in the family, Gu Tongsheng was clever from a young age and deeply loved by his parents, who bore the financial burden to support his studies.

After starting school, Gu Tongsheng studied diligently, making it his lifelong goal to pass the exams for the title of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examination’s first level).

At fifteen, he passed the Tongsheng exam, becoming a local celebrity praised throughout the surrounding villages—a moment of unparalleled glory.

This only strengthened Gu Tongsheng’s resolve to pass the Xiucai exam.

But his smooth path ended there. From then on, he repeatedly traveled to Qingzhou Prefecture to take the academy exams, failing every single time.

The cost of traveling to the exams was huge, and Gu Tongsheng’s continual failures disappointed his family more and more. The once relatively wealthy small farming household was barely able to put food on the table.

Unable to afford further attempts, Gu Tongsheng decided to try just one last time; if he failed again, he would return home to live a simple life and no longer take exams.

For this final attempt, Gu Tongsheng took his wife with him and focused on the exams, but when they reached Qingzhou, he fell seriously ill and nearly died there.

Fortunately, the Daoist temple in Qingcheng offered free medicine and treatment, which saved Gu Tongsheng’s life.

That same year, Gu’s eldest son was born. Gu Tongsheng named him Fengmian (Wind Sleep), hoping he would inherit his father’s ambition, pass the imperial exams, and surpass his achievements.

Gu Tongsheng completely gave up on continuing his own exam attempts. He returned to Lingchuan County with his wife and children and started a private school, teaching children the basics of reading and writing.

When he discovered that Gu Fengmian had a natural talent for studying, Gu Tongsheng was overjoyed and nurtured him vigorously.

Over the years as a private tutor, Gu Tongsheng earned a fair amount of money, most of which he spent on Gu Fengmian.

Worried about his own insufficient knowledge, he spent money to establish connections to send Gu Fengmian to a private school in the city for Xiucai preparation.

Worried about his son’s diet, the family would reserve fish and meat primarily for Gu Fengmian.

Worried about his son’s clothes, Gu Tongsheng wore old clothes himself so Gu Fengmian could have new clothes every year.

Gu Tongsheng accepted these sacrifices willingly, hoping only that his son would be successful, pass the exams, and bring honor to the Gu family.

Until two years ago, when a cold illness first took Gu’s mother, and then Gu Tongsheng himself passed away.

Before dying, he grabbed Gu Fengmian’s hand and said, “After I’m gone, you must study hard and pass the exams.”

[Gu Tongsheng’s obsession fully received. Start career?]

Gu Qingyan opened his eyes and wiped away a tear of sympathy for the deceased Gu Tongsheng.

Thankfully, he died early. If he had lived to know that the son he scrimped and saved to raise was actually someone else’s, completely forgetting his efforts and walking away while selling off the ancestral home, he would have jumped out of his coffin in fury.

Gu Qingyan’s impression of Gu Fengmian was even worse.

Yes, the baby had been switched at birth, turning him from the eldest son of the Li family into a Gu family child, which was unfair to him.

But the Gu family had sincerely treated him as their legitimate eldest son and given him the best they could offer.

Gu Wangqing and Gu Shuyan were girls and still had to work in the fields. But Gu Fengmian only needed to study, eating the best food and wearing the warmest clothes, enjoying the family’s full support.

Gu Qingyan understood why Gu Fengmian chose to return to the Li family—after all, the two families’ circumstances were worlds apart.

But what he couldn’t understand was why Gu Fengmian sold the ancestral home before leaving. Would the Li young master really be short of twenty taels?

How much did Gu Fengmian hate Gu Tongsheng not to even leave a way out for his two younger sisters?

Did fifteen years of family affection mean nothing?

Gu Qingyan felt a grudge and couldn’t help but think that Gu Fengmian and his mother, Xu Shi, were truly mother and son—both so heartless.

“Brother… Brother, the meal is ready.”

Gu Shuyan timidly came out carrying a bowl of rice, obviously shy around the stranger.

After seeing Gu Tongsheng’s obsession, Gu Qingyan felt somewhat familiar with the two sisters.

Thinking about how they were unappreciated at home and, as younger sisters, had to care for their brother, he felt a sudden pang of sympathy.

Looking closer, they were cooking sweet potato rice—lots of sweet potatoes, little rice, and not a single drop of oil.

Gu Qingyan couldn’t help but ask, “Is this what you usually eat?”

Something was off. From Gu Tongsheng’s memories, because their private school was the only one nearby and had even produced two Tongsheng, it was doing pretty well, and nearby families were happy to send their children there.

Just the admission fees alone should have allowed the Gu family to live comfortably.

Unlike the villagers, the Gu family could eat three meals a day—not always pure white rice, but mostly rice with few grains and occasionally some meat.

Gu Shuyan’s face flushed red. “This is all we have at home.”

She was nervous, afraid the new brother might think their home was too poor and leave immediately.

If the new brother left too, what would she and her older sister do?

Seeing her face turn red and pale repeatedly, Gu Qingyan slapped his forehead, realizing he had said the wrong thing and made the young girl worry.

“I actually love sweet potatoes.”

Gu Qingyan took the bowl and began eating heartily. To be honest, the sweet potatoes in Meiling Village were quite good—fragrant and sweet, though a bit fibrous.

Gu Shuyan breathed a huge sigh of relief and gave her sister a reassuring glance.

After eating his fill, Gu Qingyan looked up and asked, “What do you two usually eat?”

“I’m not hungry yet,” Gu Shuyan hurriedly said.

But her stomach made a loud rumbling noise.

Gu Qingyan realized something and headed toward the kitchen. Sure enough, Gu Wangqing looked a little flustered. “Brother, you’re a man. It’s not appropriate for you to come into the kitchen.”

But no matter how much she tried to stop him, Gu Qingyan went inside and looked around.

The pot was clean—just a bit of rice water, probably after cooking the rice, and just a few grains in the soup; not many sweet potatoes either.

The rice container was empty, and the cupboard only had wild vegetables—things were very grim.

Gu Wangqing and Gu Shuyan hung their heads, nearly in tears, blaming themselves for being useless and letting life get to this point. They were afraid the new brother would hate this and leave at once.

“There’s no rice left. I’ll go buy some later.”

Gu Qingyan raised an eyebrow. Well, the food he had signed for along the way could finally come in handy — so much of it, enough to feed them for a whole year.

The two girls looked up in surprise.

Gu Qingyan said again, “If you give all the rest to me to eat, won’t you starve?”

“We’re not hungry, not hungry. We ate this morning, and we’re still full,” Gu Wangqing quickly explained.

But their stomachs started growling louder and louder.

Gu Qingyan chuckled, “Even if you’re not hungry, have a little. I brought some Osmanthus cakes back.”

Then he dug into his pocket. These Osmanthus cakes were rewards he had signed for at a town pastry shop.

A big packet of Osmanthus cakes, opening it gave off a delicious fragrance.

Gu Qingyan gave each a big piece. “Try the taste.”

He bit into a big piece himself. Compared to the sweet potato rice, this was far sweeter and more fragrant.

“Eat, why are you just looking at me?” Gu Qingyan urged.

The two sisters exchanged a glance, then cautiously took a bite. The next moment, they were completely enchanted by the soft, sweet, and fragrant texture.

So good!

How could such fragrant and sweet cakes exist in the world?

Gu Qingyan stopped eating after one piece, but after the sisters finished theirs, he gave them another piece.

Poor things — all the money Gu Tongsheng earned went to a thankless son; his own daughters hadn’t even tasted Osmanthus cake.

So pitiful. Really too pitiful.

The Osmanthus cake was so fragrant and sweet that although they knew they shouldn’t eat too much or take the new older brother’s things, the sisters couldn’t help but have another piece.

Gu Qingyan handed over a third piece.

This time, the sisters refused no matter what.

“Brother, you keep this delicious Osmanthus cake for yourself.”

“We’re already full, really can’t eat any more.”

Gu Qingyan didn’t quite believe it. How could two small pieces of Osmanthus cake fill them up?

But seeing their flushed faces and firm refusals, he didn’t force them to eat.

Looking around the empty kitchen, Gu Qingyan thought to himself that he had to buy some food first or the two sisters would go hungry.

“Then take these. Eat them later if you get hungry.”

Gu Qingyan waved his hand. “I need to go to town.”

Hearing that, the sisters immediately became nervous and followed him closely.

At the door, Gu Qingyan turned and said, “This is as far as I go. I’ll be quick—try to come back today, but if not, then tomorrow.”

The sisters hesitated.

Just before he disappeared from sight, Gu Shuyan suddenly ran a few steps forward and shouted loudly, “Brother, you have to come back!”

“Alright,” Gu Qingyan waved and left, his clothes fluttering.

The two sisters stood hand in hand, still holding the Osmanthus cakes he had given them, their faces worried.

Gu Qingyan quickly walked a bit further, then checked the system.

【Open profession?】

Profession?

【Open.】

【All trades are low, only studying is noble. Please inherit Gu Tongsheng’s last wish: study hard and pass the imperial exams.】

Gu Qingyan blinked. His interface had changed.

【Host: Gu Qingyan】

【Age: 15】

【Points: 9】

【Profession: Child Scholar (Not yet enrolled)】

【Skill: Basic Medical Skill 33%】

Gu Qingyan raised his eyebrow. Looks like he was destined to study and take the imperial exams, pass six times in a row, top the exams, and open a new page in the family genealogy!