Lin Qingwan shook her head, "Every year after the summer harvest and autumn harvest, grain prices will drop somewhat, then rise again in spring. In a good harvest year, grain prices won't fluctuate too much. This year Suzhou can barely be considered a good harvest year."

  "But first, the war in Southern Han started, then refugees flooded in. Now Daliang is directly involved in the war. At the beginning of spring, grain prices would rise anyway, and it's reasonable that they rose faster due to the war. We can't assume it's being deliberately manipulated just because it's rising too fast."

  The grain price in Da Liang has always been high, because the overall environment is like this, the country is divided into four or five parts, and war can break out at any time, it's hard for the grain price to stabilize or drop.

  "How did Auntie find out?"

  "What I've analyzed is that data analysis is reasonable and well-founded. When I get home, I'll show you the stuff."

  Lin Yuhbin was worried and anxious, but now they live in the old house, and will only return after the Lantern Festival, so he can only hold back his temper.

  "In Lin Qingyuan's words, 'Have a peaceful festival and don't think too much about other things.'"

  Lin Run didn't return to the village until dusk, bringing three nephews with him. Upon hearing that Lin Qingyuan had returned to the village, he didn't even go back to his own home and instead took the three nephews to pay their respects to her.

  Lin You, Lin Jia and Lin Xi are the main forces of this Ming Jing examination. The three people's reading is not bad, but they lack talent. They have all been crowned, and among their clan brothers, they are not particularly outstanding, with only average results.

  It's even more so within the family, let alone outside.

  To take the imperial examination, making a name for oneself is the first step. They had worked hard for many years but achieved little success and didn't want to wait any longer. So when the clan leader suggested that someone go take the Mingjing exam, they discussed it and decided to go after all.

  Otherwise, if we wait any longer, I'm afraid even Ming Jing won't be able to pass the exam.

  The three of them had met Lin Qingwan before, but it was always when they accompanied their clan brothers to pay their respects, this was the first time they were meeting her alone.

  Although the other party was younger than them, the three of them couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

  The imperial examination is too difficult, and the Lin family doesn't know when they will get a mid-level candidate, so she attaches great importance to the children who participate in the Ming Jing examination.

  She attaches great importance to personally asking them about their homework.

  The three of them did not expect this turn of events and their backs tensed up. Subconsciously, they looked towards the clan leader.

  The clan leader smiled and said: "Your aunt is a famous talented woman, even your uncle has sighed that he can't match her, so you should learn from her."

  Xie Erlang is a famous talented young man in Jiangnan. The literary circle often says that after Lin Jiang, there is Xie Erlang, referring to him.

  It can be said that Xie Erlang is the best among his peers, so the three of them admired him very much and looked at Lin Qingwan with piercing eyes.

  Lin Qingwan smiled and said: "I haven't read books for a long time, and I naturally can't compare with you scholars. It's just that I remember a few sentences, so I'll just test them casually."

  Lin Qingwan lowered her head and thought for a moment before starting to ask questions.

  The Ming Jing mainly tests Tie Jing and Mo Yi, so both the questions and answers are simple and clear.

  Lin Qingwan spent a lot of time every day in this era, especially on the lost book collections in modern times. She not only read them but also memorized them.

  She will come back if she doesn't die, she is a historian and knows the importance of these collections.

  The history of this world has been different from hers since the mid-Tang period, but the collection of writings left behind before the mid-Tang period is the same.

  Not to mention others, just one "I Ching" has been lost in modern times, how much?

  Knowledge is only lost when it is not etched in one's mind.

  So even if Lin Qingwan didn't have her memories as Wan Jie, her own 24 years of knowledge accumulation plus the past two years would be enough to make questions for them.

  It's not difficult to understand the classics, mainly it tests memory. Even if Lin Qingyu asked some unconventional questions, they only needed to think for a moment before answering correctly, and only lost one or two points on the ink meaning part.

  Lin Qingyan nodded, "These few months have been quite hard work, by April it should be fine."

  Three people hung their heads and listened.

  Lin Run also thinks so, "Today I took them to visit Lu Da, got some advice, it seems that in April they will not only pass, the ranking should be good. It's just where to go after passing the exam..."

  Lin Qingwan lowered her eyes and said, "Jiangnan is rich and prosperous, and the Lin family's foundation is here. If we can stay in Jiangnan, it would be best. However, the imperial court will not arrange for everyone to stay in Jiangnan."

  Even if Ming Jing was born into a family of officials and started from a low-ranking position, the imperial court would not allow the Lin family to place so many people in official positions in Jiangnan.

  Lin Qingwan looked at the three of them and asked: "Do you have a place you'd like to go?"

  The three of them exchanged a glance and lowered their heads, saying: "Nephews should listen to their elders."

  Lin Qingwan smiled, "Jiangnan can only keep at most two people, the rest have to leave, either to Zhongyuan, or to Beidi, Xidi, or even the places that were just conquered from Nanhan."

  The three of them shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

  Lin Run said with a sigh: "Although it's not as good as Jiangnan outside, there are more dangers and opportunities."

  Lin Qingwan nodded, "That's exactly the reason. Especially in the south, where they've just gone through war, everything needs to be started anew, it's very difficult. But if done well, it would be a great achievement. The Lin family is currently weak and can only offer limited help, but we can at least prevent your contributions from being taken away by others."

  Lin Qingwan's eyes sparkled as she looked at them, "If you pass the exam, who among you is willing to go south? Who wants to go to the Central Plains, and who wants to stay in Jiangnan?"

  Lin Run saw that the three of them were sweating and couldn't help but lightly cough, saying: "It's still too early to talk about these things now, we should first take the exam..."

  "Second Brother, it's always better to be prepared. If we wait until they've passed the exam, it'll be too late." Lin Qingyan looked at the three of them and said, "Do you think staying in Jiangnan is the best option?"

  "Not," Lin Jia finally raised his head, looking at Lin Qingyan: "Those who stay in Jiangnan will definitely be watched, and even if they achieve merit, they may not be able to monopolize it. But if they make a mistake, they will definitely be caught out, magnified, and become a tool for attacking the clan. Therefore, those who stay in Jiangnan need to be steady and cautious, but being steady and cautious means being meticulous and careful, making it difficult to make mistakes, but also difficult to achieve merit. Perhaps for their whole life, they will just be a minor official."

  Lin Qingwan's mouth slightly curved up, and she asked: "Then are you willing to stay in Jiangnan?"

  Lin Jia glanced at her two younger brothers and pursed her lips, saying: "No, I want to go to the capital."

  Lin Qingwan slightly nodded her head and looked at Lin You and Lin Ji, "What about you two?"

  Lin You looked at Lin Qi and said, "Qi is the youngest, he chooses first."

  Lin Qingwan also looked at Lin Ji.

  Lin Jie's fist clenched and loosened, then he took a step forward, lifted his robe and knelt down in front of Lin Qingwan, looked up at her and said: "Aunt, I don't want to take the imperial examination."

  Lin Run furrowed his brow and looked at him with displeasure.

  Lin Qingwan nodded slightly and encouraged him to continue.

  Lin Jixiang let out a breath and clenched his fists, saying: "I... I want to join the army!"

  Lin Qingwan was taken aback, and Lin Run was even more stunned, asking: "What did you say you wanted to do?"

  Lin Ji pursed his lips and said, "I want to go to the Southern Expedition Army. Fifth Uncle, Little Auntie, my Lin family's Lin family army was once renowned throughout the land, defeating the Liao people and subjugating Great Chu. Why can't I, a member of the Lin clan, go back to the military and make achievements?"