"Oh?" Zhan Feiyu, looking up at the posted list, smiled. A hint of slyness and mischief flickered in her curved eyebrows. "It's only polite to return a favor. Big brother, you'll have to help me with something later."
Yin Wuyan glanced at the three characters following Zhan Feiyu's name on the notice board. His gaze was as cold as if he were looking at a dead person.
Back at the farm, Zhan Feiyu opened a large stack of essays sent from the capital by Gu Qingzhou. These were papers from the monthly and quarterly exams of the Imperial Academy and the two largest academies in the capital, including the essays, policy questions, and poems of the top fifty students.
Zhan Feiyu's task was to analyze each essay, identifying good sentences and explaining why they were good, and pointing out poorly written sentences and suggesting revisions. In Gu Qingzhou's words, this was knowing yourself and your enemy to win a hundred battles.
"Fat girl." The study door creaked open, and Chong Guang, holding a palm-sized gift box, darted into the study and placed it on the desk like a treasure. "Open it and see."
Zhan Feiyu put down her brush and snorted ungratefully, "Uncle Chong Guang, you're being overly attentive for no reason!"
"I was wrong, alright? Look, I've brought a gift to apologize. Fat girl, you only had two nightmares, and I almost lost my life," Chong Guang said with a mournful face. If Master Seven continued to guide me for a few more nights, all my bones would be broken.
Zhan Feiyu smiled, pursed her lips, and opened the box. Inside was a piece of double-colored jadeite with excellent clarity. The green part was carved into the shape of a carp, and the purple part was carved into rolling clouds.
"My salary for a year is all in here," Chong Guang said proudly. He had originally planned to give it to Zhan Feiyu as a congratulatory gift after she passed the county exam, but now he was using it as an apology. He would have to find another gift.
Zhan Feiyu truly liked it and smiled, her eyes curving. "Alright, our score is settled."
"Remember to tell Master Seven," Chong Guang reminded her, not entirely at ease. Seeing Zhan Feiyu nod obediently, he stretched his sore and stiff body. "You continue reading, I'm going to catch up on some sleep."
The study returned to silence. Zhan Feiyu continued reading the policy questions in her hand. This county exam would have five rounds, and she planned to stay at the farm until the results were announced before returning to the village.
Before leaving home, Zhan Feiyu had also told Madam Li and Zhan Laoda not to come to the county to accompany her for the exam. Even with the sun out, the day was still a bit cold. Traveling from the village to Shangsi County town could only be done by ox cart, and without any shelter, one could freeze stiff in half an hour.
However, Zhan Feiyu never expected that on the first day, Madam Li and Zhan Laoda would arrive with Zhan Wencheng. It was too dark at the time, and there were many people taking the county exam, hundreds of them. The couple did not see Zhan Feiyu.
Today was the day the results were posted. Zhan Wencheng first sent a whole ox cart of vegetables, chickens, ducks, two rabbits, and three pheasants to Taifu Restaurant. This took him almost half an hour.
"Uncle, you wash your hands, and I'll take you and Auntie to see the list," Zhan Wencheng quickly brought water for Zhan Laoda, who was helping to move the vegetables, to wash his hands. He said with a smile, "There were too many people when the list was first posted, and we couldn't even squeeze in."
"Mm, no rush," Zhan Laoda remained his usual taciturn self.
He only knew a few characters and couldn't understand the list. He couldn't let Wencheng neglect his duties to go see the list. Although it was a little late now, the list wouldn't run away. It didn't matter whether they went early or late.
A moment later, Zhan Wencheng, having tidied up, left the restaurant with Madam Li and Zhan Laoda. Along the way, they heard many passersby discussing the list.
When they heard that Zhan Feiyu had placed first in the first round, Madam Li and Zhan Laoda couldn't help but smile, their steps quickening.
"Uncle, Auntie, this is Xiao Yu's name, first place," Zhan Wencheng pointed to the name on the notice board, his face full of joy and pride. The better Xiao Yu did, the more prosperous their Zhan clan would be.
"Xiao Yu studies too hard," Madam Li said, wiping her eyes with a choked sob. Every time she saw Zhan Feiyu getting up before dawn, even in the biting cold of winter, Madam Li felt the pain in her heart.
Girls from farming families had a hard life. They fed chickens and ducks at four or five, and by seven or eight, they could work in the fields. They didn't have enough to eat or wear. Madam Li had rather divorced Zhan Laoda and fallen out with the old family to support Zhan Feiyu's studies, all for the sake of her only daughter having a better life.
But after Zhan Feiyu started studying, Madam Li realized that studying was even harder and more tiring than farm work. In the entire Jinlin Village, which child slept less than three hours a day? They got up before dawn to study and stayed up late, burning oil to write.
Fortunately, their hard work paid off, and Xiao Yu finally succeeded.
"Don't cry, Xiao Yu is very capable," Zhan Laoda patted Madam Li's arm comfortingly. His dark face was filled with pride. His daughter was first place, the top of hundreds of people!
Madam Li was also overcome with emotion. She smiled and said, "Wencheng, if you're busy, you go ahead. Auntie and I will go back to the village."
Although they had delivered all the dishes from Taifu Restaurant, Zhan Wencheng still planned to inquire at other restaurants and inns. He didn't stand on ceremony with Madam Li and Zhan Laoda. "Alright, Uncle, Auntie, I'll be going now. Be careful on your way back."
The county exam had five rounds, but Xiao Yu had taken first place in the first round, so the remaining four rounds should be fine. The thought of Jinlin Village producing a scholar with an official title gave Zhan Wencheng more confidence in today's endeavor. He had held off on discussing business until the results of the first round were posted. "Didn't we say we'd make two pairs of shoes for Xiao Yu? Shall we go buy some cloth now?" Zhan Laoda looked back at the bright red list before walking side-by-side with Madam Li.
After a while, a shifty-eyed man glanced at Madam Li and slowly followed behind the couple.
Passersby who saw him guessed that the man was likely a thief. The couple in front were the targets. Although they were wearing ordinary cotton padded jackets, they had no patches, suggesting they came from a decent family.
"My purse!" Madam Li cried out in distress.
But her speed was no match for the thief. In the blink of an eye, the man, clutching Madam Li's money bag containing copper coins and silver pieces, ran off towards a nearby alley.
"I'll chase him!" Zhan Laoda finally reacted, dropped his words, and sprinted after him.
Madam Li also hurried to follow. The thief ran fast, but Zhan Laoda, accustomed to farm work, was also physically strong. After a moment, he finally caught up with the man in an alley.
Stuffing the money bag into his clothes, the man found himself in a dead-end alley. He glared fiercely at Zhan Laoda, who was blocking the entrance, and threatened, panting, "Get out of the way! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"
"Give back the money bag!" Zhan Laoda replied gruffly.
Compared to the scrawny, panting thief, Zhan Laoda was not tall, but he had strength, and the other party was alone. Zhan Laoda was not afraid. He said sternly, "Hurry up!"
"What money bag? Are you crazy and trying to extort me? Go ask around, do you think your Master Feng is short of money?" He retorted defiantly and walked aggressively towards the alley entrance. "Get out of my way!"
Zhan Laoda quickly grabbed Feng Er's arm and reached into his clothes with his left hand, trying to snatch back Madam Li's money bag.
"He's stealing money! Murder!" Feng Er shouted, and immediately began to scuffle with Zhan Laoda. Although he lacked strength, Feng Er, who had been hanging around the streets for years, knew how to fight.
With a bang! Madam Li, who had arrived a moment later, and a few passersby saw Zhan Laoda push Feng Er, sending him sprawling on his back.
"Murder... This is outrageous..." Feng Er, who had fallen to the ground, simply resorted to being a hooligan and yelled, covering his chest with one hand and twitching his face in pain as if he had been truly injured by Zhan Laoda.
"You scoundrel!" Zhan Laoda cursed angrily and quickly stepped forward to pin Feng Er down, taking the money bag from his clothes.
Madam Li quickly took it and opened it. The two taels of silver pieces were still there. As for the copper coins, she didn't count them. "Husband, it's alright, the silver is all here. Let's go back."
The passersby at the alley entrance looked at Madam Li and Zhan Laoda, and then at Feng Er, who was still sitting on the ground pretending to be dead. Anyone with eyes could see that Feng Er was a thief, but he had been discovered by the owner and had his money bag snatched back.
Of course, no one called the patrolling yamen runners over. Ordinary people didn't want to get involved with these ruffians.
After a while, Madam Li and Zhan Laoda left, and the onlookers also dispersed. Feng Er, still sitting on the ground, spat with a dark expression and got up, leaning against the wall.
"Oh, young man, are you alright?" A concerned voice sounded. A man in gray clothes walked in from the alley entrance and quickly supported Feng Er. "Let me help you to the doctor."
"Thank you for your help, old man. I'm fine, no need for a doctor," Feng Er said slyly. Taking the opportunity to be supported by the old man, he stumbled as if he couldn't stand steady and pounced on the old man, his right hand quickly snatching the old man's money bag.
"Looking for something everywhere, and finding it without effort!" Feng Er had been targeting him from the start. The old man had eaten a bowl of shredded meat noodles with an extra braised egg at the noodle stall early in the morning. Feng Er had his eye on him when he paid.
But after following for half a street, the old man disappeared when he turned around. Feng Er had felt unlucky at the time, having wasted his effort. Who would have thought he would then see Madam Li and Zhan Laoda?
Besides quick hands, a thief also needs sharp eyes.
Feng Er could tell from the skin color of Madam Li and Zhan Laoda that they were farmers who worked the land. Especially Zhan Laoda's hands, they were definitely those of a good farmer. The couple wore thick cotton clothes, which indicated they lived comfortably. Feng Er naturally changed his target.
But who would have thought that Zhan Laoda, though a farmer, was quite brave and dared to chase him! Feng Er was familiar with the road conditions and could have avoided him, but he saw patrolling yamen runners on the road he intended to escape on, so Feng Er had no choice but to take another route.
But when misfortune strikes, even drinking water can get stuck in your teeth. There was a carriage blocking the road on the other path. This delay caused Feng Er to run into this dead-end alley, where he was blocked by Zhan Laoda, who also snatched his money bag.
"Old man, I'm fine now. I'm leaving, otherwise my mother and son will worry." The money bag stuffed into his sleeve felt heavy, and Feng Er couldn't wait to go home and count his silver. He left with quick steps.
The old man looked at Feng Er, who was leaving, with sinister eyes. He smiled and walked towards the end of the alley.
With a single push of his toe, the old man leaped over the wall and disappeared into the alley. Apart from Feng Er, who had just left, no one saw the old man had ever been in the alley.
...
The second round of the county exam was also called the "Zhao Fu" round. The exam content was almost the same as the first round, "Zheng Chang," with only different questions for the Four Books and Five Classics and the test-poem.
The ten candidates who were selected to sit in the main hall answered their papers under the watchful eyes of the chief examiner. Five tables were placed on each side of the hall below the main examiner. Zhan Feiyu sat at the first table on the left, while Qian Pingchao, who placed second, sat at the first position on the right. The ten people were seated in order.
After three strikes of the cloud board, the exam began.
Time passed slowly. Qian Pingchao subtly glanced at Magistrate Chen, who was seated in front of the hall. His gaze shifted with complex emotions. Master Chen was skilled in poetry, but when it came to grading papers, he valued essays more.
During the first exam, he shouldn't have focused on the test-poem. Otherwise, why would Zhan Feiyu have stolen his first place? In this "Zhao Fu" round, Qian Pingchao planned to write the test-poem first and spend more time on the Four Books and Five Classics questions.
The ten candidates selected to sit in the main hall had all demonstrated genuine talent among the more than three hundred participants. Therefore, even under the gaze of the chief examiner, they were only a little nervous at the beginning. Now, all ten were diligently answering their papers.
Around noon, Zhan Feiyu raised her hand to signal that she needed to use the latrine. The yamen runner and the plump aunt who had searched them earlier came forward as ordered, accompanying Zhan Feiyu out.
"My stomach feels a bit uncomfortable, please wait a moment longer," Zhan Feiyu said awkwardly, then quickly entered the latrine.
Because the exam was still ongoing, most people ate, drank, and used the latrine very quickly. Zhan Feiyu's time in the latrine this time was indeed a bit longer.
Magistrate Chen returned to the hall after inspecting the exam booths. He glanced at Zhan Feiyu's desk. The exam paper was still blank, but the draft paper was filled with dense writing.
After only a few glances, a hint of satisfaction flashed across Magistrate Chen's stern and solemn face. The young girl, though not old, wrote excellent essays, and her opening statements were particularly ingenious. She was indeed a disciple of Scholar Gu.
Instructor Zhao glanced outside. Why hadn't Xiao Yu returned yet? Had she eaten something bad?
Fortunately, Instructor Zhao didn't need to worry for long. Zhan Feiyu returned quickly, sat down, and began to answer her paper with focus and concentration.
An hour later, Qian Pingchao raised his hand to signal that he was submitting his paper.
Standing up, Qian Pingchao glanced disdainfully at Zhan Feiyu, who was still diligently writing. Submitting his paper early was enough to show that his essay writing skills were far superior to Zhan Feiyu's.
Qian Pingchao clasped his hands together and bowed, his attitude humble. "I implore Your Lordship to review my paper on the spot. This student..."
The nine candidates sitting in the main hall were stunned. Instructor Zhao and the other chief examiners seated in the hall were also taken aback.
As Qian Pingchao bowed, a crumpled piece of paper flew out from his sleeve and happened to hit Magistrate Chen in the face.
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