My British Empire

After the qualifying exam and the results came out, William bid farewell to his friends, left Oxford University where he had studied for a year, and returned home.

The academic year at Oxford University is four years, starting on January 7th every year, with one day off every ten days until June. After all, many students are not able to afford enough living expenses and are away from home for a long time. It is time to go home.

Classes resumed on August 1st.

William just finished his studies again, turned eighteen, and then went his separate ways.

"Master William, the master told me to come pick you up!"

As soon as he packed up and saluted and came to the door, William saw his family's dilapidated carriage parked at the gate of the university.

The carriage is open, and apart from some yellowing, the cushions are clean and tidy, and it feels cheap.

The coachman was tall and thick, with thick arms, and his face was full of signs of time, like a farmer.

He is a servant of his own family, a groom, a housekeeper, and a guard...

All right! William looked at the classmates who were also riding in the family carriage with some embarrassment. They were gorgeous and expensive, and he felt ashamed.

Although he was a little ashamed, he still gave an 'en', lowered his head, and got into the car with a salute.

Not to mention the gorgeous carriages of those rich and wealthy students, but in the eyes of those students who poorly carried their bags and went home in a public carriage, William's carriage was enough to make them envious for a lifetime.

"Master, you don't know, the original white horse is already pregnant, so I can only let this new big black horse come to pick you up, the mare is better, the stallion is too jumpy!"

…………

Before William could speak, the housekeeper and groom of his family moved his mouth up and down, talking constantly and a little noisy along the way.

Compared with the butlers trained by noble families, they are still too bad.

Helpless, William could only close his eyes and rest up.

"However, fortunately, this horse is not bad!"

Soon, the carriage left Oxford, and after driving another ten miles, it came to a place called Burton Village.

Since it used to be a fiefdom called the Knights of Burton, after the War of the Roses, the knight family dissipated, and the name remained.

When the carriage passed the village, the passing villagers cast respectful glances at him as a college student, which made William a little proud.

Immediately afterwards, the carriage stopped in front of a country house.

Red brick and white windows, large triangular window sills, sloping roofs, large chimneys erected, and column-style fences in front of the balcony. This is a country house style (Tudor style) popular throughout England.

Outside the fence, a gray and white shepherd dog was barking in the direction of the carriage, while a middle-aged man and woman were waiting anxiously.

"Mother, father!" After the carriage stopped, William jumped out of the carriage and hugged the waiting parents tightly.

"William, how glad you are to be back at last!" said his mother, with red eyes, touching his arm, and looking him up and down.

And his father William Sr. slapped him on the shoulder, very proud:

"Boy, you are very good, you have obtained the qualification, it is really a glory for me!"

"Father, mother, how do you know that I am qualified?"

William was suddenly surprised.

As soon as the news came out, his parents who were far away in his hometown knew about it, so why wasn't he surprised.

You know, his family is not aristocrats or gentlemen, but a Yomannon who rents hundreds of acres from the nobles, and then runs the business, and lives by his good farming techniques.

His annual income is only one hundred pounds. He is considered an upper-class figure in the countryside, but he is just a farmer in the countryside in the city. The news is blocked, so how do you know?

"Oh! The head of the hundred households and the head of the district told me this news, and some gentlemen and squires nearby also sent a lot of gifts, which filled the entire yard!"

Having said that, his father had to smile all over his face, then pointed his finger behind him and said.

William took a look and saw that the yard of his home was full of gifts of all kinds, and there were a few new horses in the stables, which caught his attention unconsciously.

"Yes, young master, even Master Gruer in the village sent some fat pigs to make up for your body!"

The housekeeper and groom who had just put him down from the salute hurried over and said excitedly.

Seeing this, William breathed a sigh of relief and began to chat with his parents. For a while, the yard was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Since the birth of the official admission examination, those who have obtained qualifications in the county every year will receive gifts from gentry and gentlemen from all over the county.

Especially the gentry and gentlemen near their hometown are extra positive when giving gifts.

William qualified in the county, which meant that within three years he could go to London to take his exams without qualifying again.

Three chances, the chances of becoming an official are very high, it is worth betting once.

The family sat in chairs and chatted non-stop. Most of the time it was the parents talking and William listening.

Boom! Boom!

The butler hurried over to open the door, while William and his parents stood up, ready to welcome the guest.

I saw, in front of the gate, a well-proportioned middle-aged man in high-grade linen came in, but he was wearing a butler's clothes.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. William Jr.?" The butler glanced at him, bowed to his parents first, and then greeted William politely.

"Yes, may I ask?" William was stunned for a moment, looked at his high-grade sackcloth, and compared it with his own, and asked suspiciously.

"My master is Baron Alston of Oxfordshire. He specially sent me here today to congratulate you, Mr. William. You have obtained the qualification with the second place!"

The housekeeper didn't look down on William's expression at all, but said in a friendly manner.

As he said that, when William was in a daze, a box appeared in front of him, and then the butler opened it lightly, and a box of gold coins dazzled his eyes.

"Please forgive my impoliteness, such an expensive gift, please forgive me for not accepting it!"

William swallowed and looked at the gleaming golden wooden box. It was conservatively estimated to be worth thousands of pounds, but he refused with difficulty.

He understood that although it was nothing to give a little gift, such a big gift made him understand that it was not normal.

"It's just a small gift, Mr. William doesn't need to pay too much attention to it!" But the housekeeper smiled and continued.

"Our Lord Baron intends to marry Miss to you, these are just deposits in advance!"

Speaking of this, the butler showed a domineering expression, as well as that annoying and enviable sense of superiority, which made William feel like being given alms.

Although marrying a baron's daughter was no less than reaching the sky in one step, William still wanted to go to London to become an official and then marry a noble lady with a higher family status, and he was a little conflicted.

Seeing William's hesitant look, the housekeeper frowned. The people are really lacking, and the conditions are still too low?

"Mr. William, Miss Anna is the Baron's only daughter!"

According to the new inheritance law, the daughter still owns half of the property, and if she marries her, it is equivalent to owning half of the baron's property. The dowry is really surprising!

"Now, do you still need to think about it?"

The butler looked at William and asked with a half-smile.

Thinking of this, William is also a smart person, so he immediately agreed.

An unknown future, and the property and connections of the current baron, don't need to be considered at all.

And all over England, such transactions are constantly going on, the bureaucratic class begins to merge with the nobles, you have me, and I have you!