Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 550: Pretending to Be Someone Else

Yu State, Longmen County.

"Name?"

"Dai Tu."

"Age?"

"23."

"Where are you from?"

"Yan State..."

Before Dai Tu could finish speaking, the official in charge of registration at the Government Office looked up at Dai Tu, then put down his pig bristle pen, and said, "You, a southerner, why not register nearby, why do you come to Yu State to take the exam?"

Dai Tu was taken aback and said, "Sir, doesn’t the announcement say that we scholars can take the exam in any of the Four States?"

"It has changed." The clerk withdrew his gaze from Dai Tu and immediately said, "The latest order from above is that southern scholars can only go to Huai and Lin States to take the exam, while northern scholars can only take it in Qing and Yu States."

Having said that, the clerk no longer paid attention to Dai Tu and said, "Next."

Feeling somewhat dejected, Dai Tu walked out of the Government Office, with a look of disappointment he couldn’t hide.

He had traveled for more than ten days to Yu State, exhausted and weary, only to receive this news, which made him feel like cursing out loud, filled with discontent.

He stood dazed for a long time in front of the Government Office in Longmen County.

Suddenly, he realized a problem.

He was too honest.

Duke An had just reclaimed the North, and everything was in ruins and needed rebuilding. The household registration in the North was likely already in disarray and needed re-statistics.

But Yan State was not under Duke An’s territory. Duke An could only fully control and be familiar with Qing, Yu, Lin, and Huai Four States.

In other words, he could completely fabricate a false identity, as long as it was convincing enough, the officials from Qing and Yu States couldn’t verify it anyway.

To confirm his hypothesis.

He began to observe outside the Government Office. When he met scholars successfully registered, he would inquire.

Because he greeted them politely, and the people taking the exam were mostly scholars, they were generally patient in answering Dai Tu’s questions.

Only a few people impatiently told Dai Tu to get lost. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The conclusion reached was quite similar to Dai Tu’s guess.

Those registering for the exam were only asked their age, name, and place of origin by the clerk in charge of registration, and nothing else. They weren’t even asked to provide proof of identity.

Didn’t the Government Office think of this loophole, thinking no one would dare to falsify their identity?

Of course, they thought of it.

But it was hard to fill this loophole. Firstly, the chaos caused Northern refugee populations to move southward, losing their documentation.

Secondly, the chaos caused Northern Government Offices’ household registration archives to be lost or burned, making it difficult to prove.

Lastly, due to domestic power fragmentation, officials in the Qing, Yu, Lin, and Huai Four States couldn’t access Yan State’s household registration.

And even if this loophole was patched, where there is a policy from above, below there are countermeasures. Cheating in the Imperial Exam, an illegal activity, still happens; the documentation issued by Chen Mo for separate North and South exams could only fill gaps as much as possible.

Dai Tu decided to create a false identity and immediately headed to Qingzhou.

Finally, as a person from Cangzhou, under the name Guo Xian, he successfully registered in Pingting County, Qingzhou.

To smooth the registration, he even learned a few phrases in the Cangzhou dialect beforehand, and when he registered, he used the Cangzhou dialect to say his name and age.

...

Huai State.

After the welcoming banquet ended, Chen Mo kept Wu Yanqing and Xiao Jing behind.

"Elder Wu, what is the current situation in Fengzhou?" Chen Mo inquired about Wu Yanqing.

"Prince Huai has already led his army to withdraw from Fengzhou. Now Fengzhou is a place unmanaged, at most hiding some of Prince Huai’s informants." Wu Yanqing said.

Chen Mo nodded and immediately said, "Can it be confirmed that Prince Huai has gone to Chongzhou?"

Wu Yanqing said, "At that time, Lord Geng had sent scouts to Chongzhou to investigate. Two days ago, scouts returned with news that Prince Huai was seen in Chongzhou, confirming that Prince Huai had indeed sought refuge with King Chong."

Chen Mo said, "If that’s the case, we can proceed to take over Fengzhou smoothly."

In fact, Chen Mo had already guessed this situation in his heart.

The reason he personally went to Huai State was simply because he wanted to take over Fengzhou himself, and not through Wu Yanqing and Xiao Jing’s hands, preventing the two families from meddling in Fengzhou’s affairs.

The two families’ prestige in Jiangnan and Jiangdong was already deep enough.

The two of them, having lived to this age, understood fully the current situation in Fengzhou. Sending anyone there would be able to take over, and since Chen Mo personally came, his intentions were clear to both, hence they did not respond.

After discussing business, Chen Mo turned his eyes to Xiao Jing, cupped his hands and said, "This son-in-law greets Father-in-law."

What was official just now has now turned personal.

"No need, no need." Xiao Jing hurriedly supported Chen Mo, refusing such a big courtesy, but his heart was full of joy, obviously very pleased with Chen Mo’s words.

Chen Mo laughed, "When Yunxi came in, both of you were not here, and I hadn’t visited you both beforehand, which was indeed disrespectful. I hope Father-in-law won’t blame me.

This time I came to Huai State, firstly to take over Fengzhou and save its people from hardship, secondly to visit the two of you. Yunxi also came with me this time, and after the Fengzhou matter is settled, we will visit the Xiao Family again."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jing felt flattered, knowing that the Xiao Family no longer held the glory of the past, while Chen Mo’s status was incomparable now.

Now it was the Xiao Family relying on Chen Mo, not the other way around.

Under such unequal status, the other party still showed such respect towards him, Xiao Jing couldn’t hide his joy, and quickly said, "Duke An, why do you say such things? These small matters need not trouble you to keep in mind.

When you head to Jiangnan, just let me know, the Xiao Family will welcome you with the entire clan and treat Duke An generously."

"Father-in-law is too polite." Chen Mo said gently, "You are the elder, and now we are talking personal matters, just treat me as your son-in-law. Calling me Duke An all the time feels too distant."

Xiao Jing whispered, "Son-in-law is right."

Chen Mo’s expression remained unchanged, he raised his cup and said, "This son-in-law toasts Father-in-law."

Xiao Jing immediately stood up, holding his cup and clinking with Chen Mo.

Afterwards, Chen Mo poured another cup, looked at Wu Yanqing, Xiao Jing realized they had more to discuss, so he took his leave first.

Chen Mo raised his cup, "I heard Father-in-law was injured in a battle against Xiao Ce, son-in-law was quite worried."

"Just a minor flesh wound, nothing serious, it’s almost healed, thank you for your concern, son-in-law." Wu Yanqing also stood to clink glasses with Chen Mo.

"Father-in-law’s prowess remains untouched by age, son-in-law is full of admiration. This time I have some good news to tell Father-in-law as well." Chen Mo said with a smile.

"Oh?" Wu Yanqing showed interest.

"Mi’Er has given birth, it’s a boy, both mother and child are safe and sound. This time when I came to Huai State, Mi’Er also asked me to send you her regards." Chen Mo said with a smile.