It's quite a long walk to get home from the Qiao family's place.
Upon seeing Mu Xinghe return, the villagers asked one after another, "Xinghe, how did the exam go? The results should have been released by now."
"Hmm, not bad," Mu Xinghe replied.
He suddenly realized that when the Qiao family asked him, he should immediately tell them his exam results and grade.
He wanted Xi'er to know that not only the Qiao family had been kind to him, but also that they had been kind to him.
"What do you mean by 'not bad'? Did you pass the imperial examination and become a scholar?" the villagers pressed.
As soon as the question was asked, someone laughed.
"If Mu Xinghe really passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, he would be walking on air. Look at how silent he is, he probably didn't even get last place."
"Alas, how pitiful. After ten years of hard study, you're still just a novice. But Xinghe, did you really pass the novice exam? You're not even a novice yet, are you?"
That's just how it is. Mu Xinghe has no parents, and his uncles and aunts are distant from him, so the villagers treat him differently depending on his circumstances.
“Xinghe, you should be honest. If you haven’t even passed the preliminary examination, why are you pretending to participate in the provincial examination? We can’t see it, but your parents in heaven can see it very clearly. I wonder what they think.” said a good-for-nothing from the village.
Compared to their elders, these peers least wanted Mu Xinghe to pass the exam, thus widening the gap between them and their lives.
Why can't we all be farmers in the fields? Why do we have to dream of becoming superior people?
You deserved to have failed the exam.
Mu Xinghe ignored these people. He didn't need to tell the villagers that he had passed the exam and make a fool of himself. His self-esteem didn't come from such a thing.
As long as his sister is happy, and as long as the Qiao family is happy, that's enough for him.
So he pretended not to hear, went home, put his things down, first went to pick up his sister from the neighboring village, and then went to find Uncle Zhao.
Qiao Lian'er and Qiao Xi'er stood at the entrance of the Qiao family courtyard, watching Mu Xinghe return to his home in the south of the village.
Despite the villagers' ill-intentioned attitude, Mu Xinghe remained calm and composed.
"Sister Xi'er, Brother Xinghe's way of handling things and his temperament are enough to bring you a peaceful life."
Mu Xinghe was only sixteen or seventeen years old, the age when he was most concerned about his reputation and most eager to prove himself. When he was questioned and ridiculed by the villagers, he did not bring up his success in passing the imperial examination to embarrass himself.
Such a remarkable character.
Qiao Xi'er looked expectant; she was willing to wait three years for a man like him.
Soon, the news of Mu Xinghe's failure to pass the imperial examination spread throughout the village.
"In the past ten years, only one scholar from the Wang family has passed the imperial examination. He took the exam for more than twenty years, but fortunately, he has been able to bring a good life to his family."
"It's not easy to pass the imperial examination and become a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations)."
"It's normal for a sixteen or seventeen-year-old to fail the exam."
“I think that child is honest and dull, and probably not quick-witted. He’s not cut out to take the imperial examination. He’d be better off working in the fields.”
"Yes, I think Mu Xinghe is quite strong. He may not be good at studying, but he won't starve if he works in the fields."
After dinner, Grandma Qiao was chatting with someone on the dam when she heard this and her face fell.
How do you know they won't pass the exam? Did they say they wouldn't pass?
"Aunt Qiao, it's precisely because you didn't pass the exam that you dare not say anything. If you had passed, wouldn't you have been telling everyone in the village with drums and gongs?"
"Maybe they're just being modest."
"This kind of thing can't be kept low-key. Scholars are all about passing the imperial examinations to become xiucai, juren, and jinshi."
Grandma Qiao rolled her eyes as she ate sunflower seeds. She was about to tell him about Mu Xinghe's success in the exam, but then she stopped herself.
This is a hot commodity! When the villagers found out, they were all eager to marry their daughters to Mu Xinghe.
Let's wait for Mu Xinghe to send the betrothal letter and officially finalize the marriage before making any further plans.
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