William Carter saw the confusion on everyone's faces and cursed inwardly, thinking that this cousin just wanted to see him make a fool of himself!

He couldn't be bothered to exchange fake pleasantries with James Carter and the others, so he scratched his head and said, "Xue Er, what Xue Er... Did Master Zhou ever teach that? Ah... I must have been sleeping that day."

"Haha..." Everyone burst out laughing, some nearly spitting out their food. He couldn't even recite the first chapter of the Analects, yet still had the nerve to take the county exam.

James Carter put on a stern face and, in the tone of an elder brother acting as a father, said, "William, you need to study hard."

"Oh." William Carter nodded, then said, "I'm off, then."

James Carter waved his hand, "Go on, go on, remember, make your uncle proud."

Seeing William Carter's small frame slip away to a seat by the wooden ladder, someone grinned and said, "This little brother William is really... really... ahem... haha..."

Someone else couldn't help but laugh.

The corners of James Carter's mouth also twitched slightly. He looked down on William Carter in his heart, but said aloud, "My younger brother is still young. This time he's just here to get familiar with the county exam. Sorry to make everyone laugh."

Everyone had to stifle their laughter. One of them said, "With James guiding him at all times, he'll surely make something of himself sooner or later."

The topic then shifted to the imperial examinations. James Carter was Master Zhou's prized student, diligent in his studies and having received true instruction from the master. When he spoke about the classics and essays, he was eloquent and convincing, and everyone nodded in admiration.

Meanwhile, William Carter returned to his seat. Thomas Carter, eating as he spoke, muttered, "That guy really deserves a beating."

William Carter wholeheartedly agreed.

With this cousin, it could be said that they only got to know each other after a fight, but at least the two of them were on the same side when it came to James Carter.

"Ignore him. That guy is the most sarcastic of all."

For once, there was a warm word, and William Carter felt a bit better inside. He shook his head and said, "A prime minister's heart is broad enough to sail a boat—I won't fuss, I won't fuss. Ah... I'm hungry. Where's the pork knuckle? I specially saved that pork knuckle just now."

William Carter looked at the table full of leftovers, fuming. After half a month of eating salted vegetables and radishes at home, it was rare to see some meat. Thomas Carter, you're really something.

Thomas Carter put on an innocent face, and with a casual sweep of his wide sleeve, quietly covered the pile of gnawed bones and meat scraps on the table.

Early the next morning, before the third quarter of the hour of the Tiger, more than a dozen members of the Ye family had already gathered downstairs. The shop attendants knew they were going to take the exam, so they had already been up, lighting the lamps. Old Great Uncle Carter counted everyone, then, trembling, began to give instructions one by one: "Thomas, remember, when they search you, don't talk nonsense to the officials. You're the most unruly one."

Thomas Carter took the scolding and quickly smiled and agreed.

"James, make sure to bring enough steamed buns. Don't go hungry when the time comes."

James Carter smiled modestly and replied politely, "Thank you for the reminder, Uncle."

"John Carter, all you know is eat, eat, eat, eat, eat—it's outrageous."

John Carter was so startled he quickly swallowed the food he was chewing.

Finally, he walked up to William Carter, and Great Uncle gave him a meaningful look and said calmly, "William, I heard you just started school, so I don't expect you to pass this time. It's good just to take the exam. As the saying goes..." He shook his head, then suddenly paused, his head tilting as if he couldn't think of the right words, and sighed, "Anyway, don't be like your father—consorting with prostitutes, what kind of behavior is that? Our Ye family is a family of scholars..."

William Carter felt the muscles on his face twitch involuntarily.

The county exam was held at the county school, which by now was already packed to the brim, bustling with noise.

Old Great Uncle Carter was an old hand, and now his decades of experience came into play. He led the Ye family members to sit leisurely in a nearby tea stall instead of rushing in. When the time was right and the crowd had thinned, he calmly handed out the guarantee slips to everyone, letting them enter one by one.

The county exam was only a preliminary test, not too strict, but still required identity verification, body searches, and presenting the guarantee. In addition, the students who vouched for the candidates also had to be present to greet the examiners together.

The examiner was the county magistrate himself, who now sat in the west room, surrounded by the county deputy, the instructor, and the clerks, calling names facing east.

After William Carter bowed, the magistrate seemed momentarily dazed, looking around and saying to those beside him, "This child is so young, yet I feel as if I know him. Have I seen him somewhere before?"

Seen him...

William Carter was a bit dumbfounded. Could it be that the Ye family was related to the magistrate?

It was the instructor standing beside the magistrate who reminded him, "Sir, this is the son of Henry Carter. The guarantee slip says William Carter, father Henry Carter, mother Liu."

The magistrate suddenly understood and smiled, "Oh, no wonder. So it's Henry Carter, the one who, as I've heard..."

His voice dropped so low it couldn't be heard.

This local official was quite the gossip.

William Carter felt like coughing up blood—so his father was actually a celebrity.

The magistrate and the instructor whispered for a while, then the magistrate said to William Carter, "Young man, academic success is the most important thing. Don't follow in your father's footsteps—do your best in the exam."

William Carter, looking gloomy, went next door to receive a wooden token, on which was written: "Dingchou."