The Academic Underachiever Forced to Take the Imperial Examination

Cheng Zi'an, a modern soul who previously lived as a wealthy slacker, transmigrates into the body of a seven-year-old boy in the Great Qi Dynasty. The new host is the son of Cheng Zhen, a talented but ill-fated Juren who failed to advance to the Jinshi degree due to filial mourning and bad luck. Cheng Zi'an finds himself in a Mengtong class at the prestigious Mingzhou Prefectural School, where he is viewed as a disappointment by his teacher, Mr. Zhou, and his strict father. Despite his adult mind, Cheng Zi'an struggles with the classical curriculum, relying on his prior knowledge of traditional characters and arithmetic to navigate exams that would otherwise defeat him.

The central conflict emerges through the social dynamics of the school. The student body is stratified by family background, with prominent clans like the Xin family holding significant power. Xin Jinian, a spoiled heir from this influential clan, frequently bullies Fang Yin, a poor but exceptionally bright student from a neighboring village. Fang Yin, who was recommended to the school by Cheng Zhen, endures humiliation and physical intimidation from Xin Jinian and his sycophantic followers. Cheng Zi'an witnesses these incidents, initially choosing to remain neutral due to the dangers of opposing a powerful family, but he eventually intervenes by creating a diversion to stop a particularly severe bullying episode.

A key turning point occurs during an exam period. Cheng Zi'an, leveraging his modern understanding of basic arithmetic, achieves perfect scores in mathematics, shocking his peers and teachers. This success draws the ire of Xin Jinian, who accuses Cheng Zi'an of cheating. Cheng Zi'an calmly deflects the accusation, refusing to be drawn into a cycle of self-justification and forcing the teacher to dismiss the baseless claims. Following this, Xin Jinian attempts to frame Cheng Zi'an for his own accidental injury, but Cheng Zhen, the father, handles the situation with political acumen, neutralizing the Xin family's threats by reminding them of the broader social consequences and the school's independence.

The story further develops as Cheng Zi'an navigates the complex relationship with his father. Cheng Zhen is a stern disciplinarian who prioritizes academic rigor and social awareness over affection. He punishes Cheng Zi'an for his mischief but also provides guidance on the harsh realities of the scholar-official world, emphasizing that poverty and lack of background make one vulnerable to exploitation. Cheng Zi'an begins to understand that his father's strictness is a survival mechanism in a society where status determines safety and respect.

As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, the narrative highlights the economic disparities between students. Fang Yin receives a bolt of cloth from the Xin family, a gesture that is ostensibly charitable but deeply humiliating, reinforcing his subordinate status. Cheng Zi'an observes this with growing discomfort, recognizing the systemic injustice that Fang Yin faces. Meanwhile, Cheng Zi'an's own family prepares for the upcoming Spring Imperial Examination, with Cheng Zhen planning to travel to the capital. The chapter ends with Cheng Zi'an being tasked with agricultural labor, a reminder that despite his family's relative wealth, he must still contribute to their livelihood, grounding his scholarly ambitions in the harsh realities of rural life.

The trajectory of the story points toward Cheng Zi'an's gradual integration into this historical setting. He must balance his desire for a carefree life with the necessity of academic success to protect himself and those around him, like Fang Yin, from the predations of powerful clans. The narrative sets the stage for Cheng Zi'an to use his modern knowledge and adult perspective to navigate the treacherous waters of imperial examination politics and social hierarchy, while forming alliances and confronting the entrenched inequalities of the Great Qi Dynasty.