I have to say, David Thompson is indeed shrewd and calculating. Back when Ryan Thompson was still a child, he was already purchasing maidservants outside, and all of them were quite attractive. Now, after so many years, the maids and servant girls in the Li household have grown up to be quite charming.

These maids and servant girls were, in fact, all prepared for Ryan Thompson's future.

As long as Ryan Thompson wished, any maid or servant girl in the household could be picked at will.

“Father, you know that I have practiced martial arts for many years and have achieved some results. I cannot get close to women yet; I estimate I’ll need to wait another two years. Besides, my master also said that a young man’s body is not yet fully developed, and his energy and blood are not yet settled. If I don’t restrain myself, it’s easy to harm my health,” Ryan Thompson said.

But in his heart, he could only smile bitterly. The breathing and meditation technique he practiced, according to his master, was a form of virgin cultivation; before achieving mastery, he could not lose his virginity, or else his future achievements would be limited.

Before puberty, he thought it didn’t matter whether he cultivated or not—after all, he was still young and lacked the ability anyway.

Who would have thought that after more than ten years of cultivation, he’s now fifteen and still hasn’t achieved mastery, leaving him in a dilemma.

If it were before, Ryan Thompson would have thought it didn’t matter whether he cultivated or not, and there was no need to insist on mastery. But now it’s different—after realizing this is the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, if he doesn’t have some means of self-protection, wouldn’t he be courting death?

Beautiful wives and concubines are nice, but his own life is more important.

Hearing Ryan Thompson's words, David Thompson sighed helplessly: “As your father, I was truly muddle-headed back then. I shouldn’t have let you follow the Daoist to learn martial arts. With the wealth of our Li family, even if you were weak and powerless, what would it matter? Would we really fear bandits? Now, although you are brave and strong, able to wield a heavy spear and draw a powerful bow, and are also talented in literature, truly both civil and martial, but continuing the family line is of utmost importance—nothing else compares…”

As he spoke, he went on and on, saying things like, “What’s the use of such high martial skills? You’re not young anymore; you should be marrying and taking concubines,” and so on.

Ryan Thompson couldn’t stand his father’s nagging and could only say, “I just arrived today and haven’t yet paid my respects to mother. Please allow me to go see her first.”

“That’s right, filial piety comes first. I won’t keep you, go ahead,” David Thompson said.

Only then did Ryan Thompson, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly leave.

Seeing Ryan Thompson walk away with steady steps and agile movements, like a dragon or tiger, David Thompson smiled and nodded approvingly: “Truly worthy of being my family’s qilin son.”

After greeting his mother in the back courtyard, he washed up and then went to rest early.

The next day.

According to his usual schedule, this was the time to go to the county academy to study.

Although Ryan Thompson spent a lot of time practicing martial arts, his achievements in literature were not small either. At such a young age, he was already a tongsheng, just waiting for the triennial provincial exam to begin so he could compete for the xiucai title.

It must be said, the ancient imperial examination system truly had huge drawbacks. From learning to read to taking the top scholar exam, it takes at least a dozen years.

Ryan Thompson started studying early, yet he still hasn’t even become a xiucai.

To take the xiucai exam, he has to wait until the autumn exam this year.

There’s still plenty of time.

The county academy is called Beilin Academy, located in a quiet grove north of Guobei County. The teacher at the academy is named Henry Cole, a man of real talent and learning. He was originally a xiucai, and when he came to Guobei County, he was a down-and-out scholar. The Li family helped him and funded the opening of Beilin Academy, allowing him to settle down here.

Now, in a flash, more than ten years have passed.

The once young xiucai is now a man in his thirties.

Ryan Thompson came to Beilin Academy as usual today.

When he arrived, he found that quite a few people were already seated in the classroom, many of whom were his old classmates.

“Teacher, your student is late. Please punish me,” Ryan Thompson said, cupping his hands in greeting outside the academy.

Henry Cole smiled and said, “You’re not late; I arrived early. Come in and take your seat. Today, I happen to want to discuss some words of the sages. I hope you can all benefit from them.”

After Ryan Thompson sat down, he noticed that among the few familiar classmates, there was a new face.

It was a young gentleman, dressed in fine clothes, with a jade belt at his waist and a folding fan in hand, looking every bit the part of a wealthy family’s son.

However, Ryan Thompson knew all the wealthy sons in Guobei County, except for this one.

“Brother Bolton, is there a new classmate in the academy?” Ryan Thompson asked in a low voice.

The scholar beside him, John Bolton, replied, “Brother Thompson, you haven’t been here recently, so it’s normal not to know. That is the county magistrate’s son, named James Foster, who also came to the academy to study. Like you, he is a tongsheng and is preparing for this year’s provincial exam. He didn’t want to study behind closed doors, so he came here to learn and exchange ideas with us. But this James Foster is a bit arrogant and looks down on us county students. Brother Thompson, you should be careful.”

Ryan Thompson nodded slightly, betraying no emotion.

So James Foster is the new county official’s son—truly a bit of a surprise.