On the morning of the Tongsheng exam results, the bright sunlight, like a golden veil, gently and soothingly poured down upon the spot where the list was posted. The surroundings were bustling with activity, the crowds surging like a tide, the throng of heads like a heaving ocean. Everyone's eyes were a tangle of nervousness and anticipation. Their gazes, like sharp arrows, eagerly darted across the list, searching for their own names, as if that name held the key to their future destiny.
Siyan's figure was nimble and agile within the crowd, like a nimble little fish, effortlessly weaving through the gaps between them. Soon, he had successfully squeezed under the list. He slowly crouched down, his beloved abacus, always with him, resting firmly on his knees. Then, like nimble butterflies, his fingers danced across the abacus, the beads clacking with a crisp, rapid sound as he fiddled with them. This sound, like a tightly rhythmic movement, undulated in the air, vividly conveying his inner tension and anticipation.
"Twenty-third place, Jiang Xiaoyu!" Si Yan's voice trembled with excitement, like the tremolo of a plucked string. Before he finished speaking, he suddenly leaped to his feet, the abacus in his hand nearly breaking free of his grip and hurling itself at the candidate behind him. Surprised glances from those around him shone in his gaze, like searching beams of light, but Si Yan, immersed in joy, remained oblivious. At that moment, his eyes and heart were filled with the immense joy of having a place on the list. It was the ecstasy of his dream becoming reality, like a blazing flame burning in his chest.
Su Jinli finally managed to squeeze through the crowded crowd and made her way to Si Yan's side. She looked in the direction Si Yan pointed, and when the three words "Jiang Xiaoyu" came clearly into view, firmly listed on the list, she couldn't help but laugh. "Jiang Xiaoyu? You're amazing!" She smiled, reached out her hand, and gently tapped Si Yan's head. The gesture was gentle and doting, her eyes full of satisfaction and pride, as if she had seen a star of hope thriving.
Jiang Yan stood quietly aside, his face also filled with an irrepressible smile of joy. Subconsciously, he reached into his arms and silently took out two taels of silver, which was the thank-you gift he had prepared for his teacher long ago according to custom. However, just as his hand was halfway out, it was quickly stopped by Si Yan, who was quick-eyed and quick-handed. "Dad, the thank-you gift is indeed five taels according to the market price, but I have already negotiated with the teacher to use the shares of the bookstore to offset it!" Si Yan said with a proud face, and his expression was as if he had just completed a wonderful deal that was enough to shock the business world. Jiang Yan was slightly startled, then chuckled helplessly, secretly feeling that his son's innate ability to calculate was really amazing.
Time flowed like the gentle flow of water, and before we knew it, the day of the provincial examination had quietly arrived, as promised. Siyan, still as calm and confident as ever, carefully tucked his beloved abacus into his arms, and with steady and resolute steps, he entered the examination room, filled with challenges and opportunities. Inside, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified, as if the very air were thick with tension. The examinees were all buried in their pens, their rustling sounds rising and falling, intertwining and echoing in the silent space, like spring silkworms chewing mulberry leaves or gentle rain tapping on window frames.
Siyan took the paper and pondered briefly, his mind ablaze with inspiration. Immediately, he launched into a eloquent essay, meticulously calculating the losses incurred by the Jiangnan Grand Canal. His pen, like a nimble dancer, danced lightly across the pristine white paper, flowing freely and effortlessly. He not only meticulously analyzed the costs of the Grand Canal—manpower, material resources, time—but also meticulously included a clearly structured and logically rigorous profit distribution table. Each number resembled a meticulously crafted work of art, each line embodying his keen insight and profound thinking into business and economics, as if a grand business blueprint were unfolding before his eyes.
After the provincial examination, the chief examiner, while reviewing the papers, was instantly captivated by Siyan's answer. Holding the paper in hand, his eyes widened, a wave of surprise spreading across his previously calm face. After reading each word, word by word, he couldn't help but clapped his hands in amazement. The sound resonated loudly in the quiet room, as if to burst through the confined space and announce to the world the extraordinary nature of this answer. "Your Majesty, this year there is a candidate named Jiang Xiaoyu whose mathematical proficiency surpasses even that of the Minister of Revenue!" The chief examiner, fully aware of the gravity of this matter, dared not slack off. He immediately rushed to the palace, carrying the paper, to report the truth to the emperor.
At that moment, the emperor sat leisurely in a pavilion in the Imperial Garden, admiring the garden's beauty while savoring juicy grapes. Upon hearing the examiner's remarks, he nearly choked on the grapes he was about to bring to his mouth. "Jiang Xiaoyu? That name sounds familiar." The emperor frowned slightly, lost in thought, searching his memory for clues. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. He remembered Jiang Yan's remarks at court about his son, a money-obsessed child with numbers and an exceptional sensitivity to all kinds of accounts. Thinking of this, the emperor couldn't help but feel a strong curiosity about this candidate named "Jiang Xiaoyu."
Finally, the good news that Si Yan passed the imperial examination spread throughout the Jiang family like a spring breeze. In an instant, the Jiang family was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns. Festive red lanterns were hung in every corner of the courtyard like stars, as if to pass on this joy to every inch of the family without reservation. The sound of firecrackers crackled, and the sound was crisp and pleasant, and continuous, as if playing a hymn of victory happily, filling people's hearts with joy and excitement. Nian Li was as excited as a happy little bird. She rushed out of the house with a toy sword, looking playful, cute and full of energy. "Brother, I'll go and smash the place for you!" She waved the sword with a skillful and majestic movement, as if she really wanted to conquer all obstacles in the world for Si Yan and open up a bright road for him.
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