In the twelfth year of Tianshun in the Daqi era, March, at the Dong Mansion in Shuangdian County.
"Alas, I wonder how Jiajun is doing in the capital city? The central examination should be over by now, right? I'm not sure if Jiajun was able to make it to the list of successful candidates this year," an elderly woman, who appeared to be in her sixties and quite well-nourished, said from her bed to the woman sitting across from her.
"Mother, what's the rush? Jiajun is only twenty-five years old. I remember the second brother wasn't a successful candidate until he was twenty-eight. If Jiajun doesn't make it this year, he can take the examination again. It was Jiajun who insisted on taking the test. Otherwise, the Xu family would have already sought an official position for him," said the woman sitting opposite the elderly lady, who seemed to be in her forties and also well-maintained. She must have been a beauty when she was younger.
