"Cultural Transmission System?"
"So, does this mean I can become a writer with this, or should I start a publishing house or something? For now, I'll probably have to stick to being a writer, since the original owner is only in her first year of high school.
I can't possibly start a publishing house.
As for being a writer, I might be able to barely fulfill the original owner's dying wish to surpass her older sister and younger brother in some aspect and make her parents look at her with new eyes.
Well, that's the preliminary plan for now.
As for imprinting marks on the world's origin, that's not urgent for now. I'll wait until I understand more about this world's situation, its social structure, and so on."
Since this golden finger definitely needed to be tested, Ding Yun quickly set a short-term goal for herself based on the Cultural Transmission System.
...
Downstairs in the living room.
Since the promotion banquet hadn't started yet, many relatives and friends weren't rushing to the nearby restaurant. They were gathered in the living room at home, chatting and offering congratulations.
"Hahahaha, your Xiao Ran is so smart. We haven't even heard of you guys sending her to tutoring classes, and she still managed to get into the Prefecture Academy with ease.
In a few more years, she'll definitely be able to pursue further studies at the Imperial Academy.
Then, no matter where she goes, people will be scrambling to recruit her. Entering politics will be a breeze, and perhaps in the next generation, or within ten years, your family will be able to change your fortunes. Don't forget us relatives then!"
In this world, talent did not flow freely between prefectures. People from a prefecture could basically only attend universities within their own prefecture.
Cross-prefecture enrollment and the like were very troublesome.
The highest institution of learning in each prefecture was the Prefecture Academy.
Those with excellent grades could enter the Imperial Academy for further studies.
Although the imperial family had become mere mascots, the status of the Imperial Academy remained extremely transcendent. Once one entered the Imperial Academy, it was essentially equivalent to having one foot in the official circles of the capital. They were considered insiders of the civil service.
They could also be considered reserve civil servants.
In the past, there was the saying that one could not enter the cabinet without being from the Hanlin Academy. Nowadays, there is also the saying that one cannot enter the cabinet without being a student of the Imperial Academy.
However, generally speaking, each prefecture had only thirty to fifty spots each year. The exact number depended on the prefecture's strength. Their prefecture only had thirty spots.
Li Ran only ranked in the seventies.
The probability of getting into the Imperial Academy was very low. However, at times like these, unless there was animosity, people would choose to speak favorably.
Parents could only be happy.
At most, they would respond with a bit of humility and politeness:
"Oh my, oh my, Elder Brother, you're too kind. Xiao Ran isn't that amazing. We can't interfere with what she wants to do in the future; it all depends on her own ideas."
"Yes, don't put us on a pedestal!"
At the same time, Uncle Jiu, Li Heyun, who was standing nearby, smiled and said, "Qinghua, you shouldn't be so humble. Our Li family basically has no scholars. In the past three generations that I'm familiar with, your daughter has the highest education.
Speaking of which, it's quite an imbalance of yin over yang.
The one managing the largest industry is also Third Sister.
But regardless, it's all good. Your family's education is commendable. Unlike my son, he's simply a blockhead. No matter how many tutors we hire, it's useless. He got the last place again on the final exam. If you have any good educational methods, don't keep them to yourselves, okay? We're all relatives.
Help us out, right!"
"Oh, our family doesn't have any good educational methods. Xiao Ran's good grades are all thanks to her. Her mother and I truly haven't been able to provide much help; it's good enough that we haven't held the child back.
If you don't believe me, look at our second daughter, A Yun.
She's no different from your son. She also got the last place this year. I don't even know if she can get into university. I don't dare to expect any great achievements from her anymore. I just hope she behaves herself and doesn't cause trouble.
When the time comes, she can marry into a good family."
The original owner's father, Li Qinghua, was not being polite or humble this time, but was genuinely speaking the truth.
"Alas, daughters are still better. Your second daughter, at least she's a girl. If her grades are bad, she still has the path of marriage. But my son's grades are bad, and he can't get married, can he? It's really worrying.
We parents just have to work harder.
If I had known, I should have learned from you and had more children. If one is mediocre, by having more, at least one will turn out well. It's impossible for all of them to be mediocre."
Uncle Jiu, Li Heyun, then remembered that Li Qinghua also had a mediocre second daughter and a son who was just average, not particularly outstanding. He couldn't help but sigh.
He began to ponder the benefits of having more children.
In their generation, there were a total of eleven siblings. Four of them became successful, and the others, with the help of those four, at least lived a comfortable life.
It was through the mutual support of siblings that they had what they had today.
If they had only had one child, let alone being mediocre, even if they had been talented, without the help of other siblings, it would have been difficult to rise quickly. Therefore, if the family is harmonious and siblings are united, it is indeed better to have more children.
Internal strife, on the other hand, is another matter.
For a moment, he was a little conflicted, wondering if he should have more children and if it was too late.
"Oh, Uncle Jiu, don't worry too much. It's not only by studying that one can succeed these days. Moreover, we have some assets. As long as the children aren't spendthrifts, it's basically enough for them to live their lives."
The original owner's mother, Xu Hui, also chimed in to comfort him.
"It's fine, I'm just sighing.
By the way, Xiao Ran has been downstairs all along. Why don't I see Xiao Yun? And where is De Dong? Why are neither of them here? Isn't it already the holiday?"
Li Heyun did not want to dwell on this matter, so he quickly changed the subject. The generations of their Li family in recent times were He, Qing, De, Sheng, Mao, Wen, Jing, Hua, Zhao, Rong, Xin, Zhang. So, the De Dong he mentioned, in terms of辈分 (generation), was his grandson's generation, and also the original owner's younger brother.
As for why the original owner and her sister's names did not contain the character "De," it was mainly because when assigning generations, girls were never considered.
The characters used were mostly unsuitable for women.
Even in recent decades, daughters could be included in the genealogy. However, generally, when naming, including on identification cards, the names do not carry generation markers. Only the genealogy records do.
For example, Li Ran.
Her name in the genealogy was Li De Ran.
The original owner, Li Yun, was called Li De Yun.
This name was indeed not very suitable for a girl's name, so whether it was on the ID card or in daily conversation, family members and friends would omit the "De" when addressing her.
"They are both at home.
As for Xiao Yun, you know her personality. She's a bit reclusive and stays in her room all day. De Dong is probably playing games in his room. His grades are already mediocre, and he plays games whenever he has time, no matter how much we tell him.
Xiao Ran's college entrance examination is also over. This summer, her father and I are planning to properly discipline him."
Xu Hui immediately stated her intentions naturally.