This topic was awkward for Yu Shu to continue, but Yan Jin had no such concern. “Exam preparation is important. Sister Lan should go study first. We’ll just have a couple more cups of tea and take our leave.”

　　Yu Erlan smiled apologetically, “I’m really sorry. After I finish the exam, I’ll have a few more drinks with Ah Jin.”

　　After Yu Erlan returned to her room to study, Yan Jin and Yu Shu stayed for a bit longer before taking their leave.

　　Although Yu Shu was there, Xu Junde was still a man after all, and it wasn’t appropriate for him to stay in the same room with other women for too long.

　　Yan Jin overheard some of what Xu Junde said to Yu Shu about the imperial exams and got an idea.

　　After returning home, Yan Jin said to Yu Shu seriously, “Yu Shu, I want to take the imperial exams.”

　　After transmigrating, Yan Jin, who had some spare money, didn’t want to work as hard as before and just wanted to live comfortably.

　　Although the State of An was much more open than Yan Jin had imagined, it was not her red flag-filled motherland after all.

　　To live peacefully in a feudal society, one first needed a respected identity.

　　Yan Jin could also invent things, become wealthy, and gain others’ respect. And after observing for the past few days, Yan Jin found that although craftsmen had a much higher status in the State of An compared to ancient times in her motherland, among the commoners without official positions, the most respected were still the scholars who could take the imperial exams.

　　Compared to those native scholars, Yan Jin knew she was at a disadvantage from the start.

　　But Yan Jin was self-aware. She didn’t fantasize about standing out after transmigrating, pushing aside those scholars, and taking first place.

　　Yan Jin decided to set her goal for the imperial exams at the xiucai level. Once she passed the xiucai exam, she would leave and definitely not aim higher.

　　The status of a tongsheng was too low, while the juren exam required more time and effort, which was too tiring.

　　The xiucai level was just right. If Yan Jin changed her mind in the future and wanted to go further, she could take the juren exam; if she didn’t want to continue with the imperial exams, the xiucai title was enough.

　　Advance when possible, retreat when needed.

　　Yu Shu gave Yan Jin a strange glance.

　　Yan Jin thought Yu Shu didn’t trust her, so she explained her thoughts to him.

　　If they were just fellow villagers and didn’t live together, Yan Jin wouldn’t need to explain so clearly.

　　But they saw each other every day, and Yu Shu was teaching her calligraphy. If Yu Shu knew her plans for the imperial exams, it would be more convenient for her to prepare.

　　”Yan Jin, be honest,” Yu Shu sighed after hearing Yan Jin’s detailed explanation.

　　”Are you really using the imperial exams as an excuse to avoid socializing?”

　　[Hahaha, I’m laughing so hard that even the rooster next door can’t keep up with me.]

　　[Although this development is unexpected, Yu Shu’s guess is not entirely unreasonable. When I heard Yan Jin say she wanted to take the imperial exams, my first reaction was the same.]

　　Yan Jin: “…What kind of image do you have of me in your heart?”

　　Yu Shu: “A socially anxious person who hates socializing.”

　　”I sincerely want to pass the xiucai exam to provide more security for our future life,” Yan Jin said helplessly. “I’m really not avoiding socializing, and I’m not socially anxious. I just don’t like chatting with people.”

　　Yu Shu said “oh” and added, “Uncle Wang next door invited us to have dinner at his place tonight. Let’s not cook and go eat at his place.”

　　Yan Jin: “…”

　　”Sister, didn’t you say you’re not socially anxious?” Yu Shu crossed his arms and looked at Yan Jin with a playful gaze. “Then let’s tidy up in the afternoon and go have dinner at Uncle Wang’s place.”

　　Under Yu Shu’s teasing gaze, Yan Jin covered her lower abdomen and said in an exaggerated tone, “Oh no, my period is about to come. I’ve been feeling unwell these past few days and just want to rest at home.”

　　”…Sister, can your acting be any more perfunctory?” Yu Shu’s ears turned slightly red, but he couldn’t help laughing at Yan Jin’s poor acting. “Just how much do you hate socializing?”

　　Yu Shu: “I only knew before that you don’t like to talk, but I couldn’t tell at all that you’re socially anxious.”

　　”Because I know how to pretend,” Yan Jin said seriously. “And I really am not feeling well. Every time I have my period, my body is weaker than usual, and I need to lie in bed and rest quietly.”

　　[Although, why is Yan Jin talking to Yu Shu about her period? Doesn’t she feel embarrassed?]

　　[It’s a normal physiological phenomenon. What’s there to be shy about?]

　　[I think it’s better to expect Yu Shu to be embarrassed than to expect Yan Jin to be embarrassed.]