"You haven't done this before, so you probably don't know. Have you ever taken a travel permit to the market?"

"The western market is more suitable..."

Grace Foster picked up the travel permit and turned to leave.

The young man reached out, wanting to say something more, but Grace Foster had already disappeared quickly.

The young man let out a long sigh and sat back in his original seat, looking even more bitter.

And as Grace walked out of the county office, he too let out a sigh of relief.

The three old farmers, seeing Grace Foster come out, trembled with excitement.

"Mr. Foster, are you alright?"

"It was just going in to handle a travel permit, nothing to worry about."

"Then what about us..."

"I'll escort you out of the city."

As the group walked along the road, for some reason, the three who had just seemed soulless now regained their energy.

Following behind Grace Foster, they chattered nonstop, talking all the way.

"Mr. Foster is destined for great things. I knew it since he was a child—he could pee so far!"

"That's right, and his family's peach orchard grows so well!"

"Liu Da even killed a big tiger..."

They continued with their rambling flattery, following all the way to the city gate.

Standing at the gate, Grace Foster earnestly instructed, "After leaving the city, head straight for the village. Don't take the small paths near the Zhang River, and leave all your things behind..."

"When you get home, let my mother know—just tell her I've successfully enrolled."

"Alright, alright."

The three nodded. Grace Foster showed the travel permit to the city guards and explained the situation. After carefully recording the permit and the three men's identities, the guard ordered the soldiers to let them pass.

Grace Foster stood in place, watching the three of them stumble awkwardly out of the city gate.

They wanted to run but didn't dare, wanted to look back but didn't dare, their limbs and heads completely out of sync, as if they'd suddenly forgotten how to walk.

Only when their figures gradually disappeared did Grace turn and leave.

……

The sun blazed overhead.

A man sat on a folding stool, a tall desk in front of him, right at the entrance of a grand mansion.

Beside him stood another man, bent over, grinning broadly as he waved a fan.

The man had his collar open, cursing the weather under his breath.

At that moment, a shadow suddenly blocked the glaring sunlight.

The man opened his eyes to see a tall, rough-looking young man standing before him, head lowered, looking down at him.

Startled, the man—and even his lackey—forgot to wave the fan.

Grace Foster spoke: "maγtalrgn."

The man hurriedly straightened his collar, forcing a friendly smile, and stammered, "r..."

He searched his mind for the right words, "dug..."

"I'm here to register for the exam."

The man was taken aback, sizing up Grace Foster again, and asked uncertainly, "Han?"

"Han."

The man immediately relaxed, his expression turning fierce.

"You should've said so! Gave me a fright! Why is a Han speaking Xianbei?"

He pulled up his sleeves again, leaning back with a look of utter disdain, pointing at Grace Foster and scolding:

"Look at your outfit—do you look like a proper Han man? So sloppily dressed!"

The lackey chimed in, "Scared me too! What the heck! A Han man, trying to imitate those barbarians!"

Hearing this, the master glared at him, "Idiot! Are you looking to die?"

The lackey realized his slip and quickly lowered his head, falling silent.

The man looked up lazily at Grace Foster.

"To take the exam, you must first study law at the county school for forty days, then you can participate."

"I know."

"Six hundred coins."

Grace Foster said word by word, "I went to the county office. His Majesty granted a favor—three hundred coins."

"Then go study at the county office!"

Before the man could reply, the lackey shouted again.

Grace Foster nodded, "Alright, I'll go ask at the county office again."

"You... fine, three hundred it is."

The man waved his hand, and the lackey brought out a bamboo slip, tossing it to Grace Foster. "Name, address—must match the travel permit exactly."

Grace Foster filled it out, placed the money to the side, and the man stamped the bamboo slip and handed it to Grace.

Grace took the bamboo slip and was about to head to the county school.

"Where are you going?"

The lackey hurriedly blocked his way.

He waved his hand as if shooing a fly, "Your name hasn't been reported to the county school yet. Tomorrow, come back tomorrow!"

"Just bring the bamboo slip with you tomorrow!"

Grace Foster gave them a deep look, then turned and left.

Even after he left, the two were still fuming, cursing under their breath:

"What a bumpkin, a country yokel—how is he worthy of sharing my surname Liu?"

Walking down the empty road, there were few passersby.

The thin, gaunt people stared blankly into the distance, shuffling along, undisturbed by the sights along the way.

Grace Foster had nowhere else to go, so—

"Bang, bang, bang~~"

The doors of the eatery once again shook off their dust.