In Xu Mo's mind, it should be poor students who do such things, just like the classmate he had secretly followed before.
However, the truth is that the students who came to him were all rich and noble, dressed in gold and silver, and their every move exuded the air of a young nobleman from Fengjing. If you didn't know better, you would think they were direct descendants of some aristocratic family.
The man immediately said, "I used to be as poor as you, but later I was appreciated and helped by a noble person, which allowed me to transform myself and live a respectable life in Fengjing."
Xu Mo's heart sank.
This person is too clever. He almost perfectly grasped the poor student's desire for recognition. His straightforward tone further increased the sense of trust. If it were someone with weak willpower, they would soon be following his lead.
Fortunately, Xu Mo still had some composure and said softly, "I don't quite understand what this classmate is saying."
After saying that, he took out a book to cover the patch in front of him.
This move pleased the wealthy students and dispelled their wariness.
"Xu Mo, right? I've heard about you. You're a commoner from Xieyang County, orphaned and alone, who went to Fengjing for the imperial examination." The student murmured softly, a hint of melancholy appearing in his eyes as if he remembered something.
Xu Mo did not refute.
His household registration only listed himself, and his second brother's new shop opening only listed Zhao Yuanqi Huai and Zhu Sihuan.
Zhu Sihuan goes without saying, Qi Huai is a smart man who wouldn't reveal it, and Zhao Yuan is simple-minded and stubborn. If Xu Mo says they have no money, then they have no money and he never doubts it.
"I also heard that you're temporarily staying at your aunt's house. I imagine you're not having a good time living under someone else's roof," the wealthy student added.
Xu Mo blinked.
This aunt... should be Aunt Zhang, right?
Xu Mo's surname is Xu, and Aunt Zhang's surname is Zhang. They are obviously not blood aunts, so she must be a cousin.
That was a good guess. Don't guess again next time.
Xu Mo's lips twitched, and he turned his head away sadly, as if in acquiescence.
The wealthy student said with a hint of smugness, "I also found out that your cousin has several children at home, and they're always chattering away, so it's probably hard to have a peaceful time."
However, in reality, while it was quiet when Xu Mo was alone, he always felt somewhat lonely. When his younger siblings were around, the whole courtyard seemed to come alive, and even the words on the books became vivid and lively.
“Such an environment is probably not conducive to your studies,” the wealthy student concluded. “The imperial examination is in three months. You need money, a quiet study environment, and a bright future.”
He said enticingly, "If you want them, you can have them all at your fingertips."
Nothing comes easily.
Every gift bestowed by fate has a price tag attached in secret.
Wearing gold and silver is certainly nice, and spending money like water is also carefree, but when all of this requires exchanging one's talents, turning that ambitious schoolboy into a rich young master who is decadent and unambitious, when looking back on decades of hard study, will one not feel a pang of regret?
Those words from those innocent days echoed back, resounding like thunder, deafening and awe-inspiring.
Xu Mo quietly looked at the wealthy young man, the turbulent look in his eyes making the young man feel uneasy all over, almost wanting to run away with his head in his hands, before he whispered, "I can give it a try."
It's just a trial.
The backbone his father instilled in him remains in his heart, and the patriotism his teacher taught him has never been forgotten. Xu Jieyuan's talent is dedicated solely to the nation and his family, and he will never seek personal gain.
But for wealthy young men, the phrase "give it a try" is enough.
Countless students embarked on this perilous journey in this way. Some were unwilling, some were filled with grief and indignation, some only wanted to make a little money and then stop, and some were as compassionate as Guanyin, trying to rescue their classmates from the sea of suffering.
But once they got the money and enjoyed the pleasure of spending it like water, they could never go back.
As our ancestors said, it is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.
Having experienced that an article could be exchanged for a hundred taels of silver, and understanding that money in Fengjing was equivalent to dignity and status, who could go back to a life of poverty? Who would be willing to wear patched clothes and eat coarse grains every day?
In the eyes of the wealthy young man, Xu Mo was just the next "them".
The two made a simple agreement.
The wealthy young master's request was simple: Xu Mo had to write an essay based on the previous Fengjing provincial examination question within three days, and then he would pay money based on the quality of the essay.
After that, this article had nothing to do with Xu Mo, and the money was exchanged.
When Xu Mo subtly suggested wanting to meet his other classmates, the wealthy young master ruthlessly refused.
“Our line of work is easy to make money in, but there is competition.” He smiled ambiguously. “You are in competition with the other ghostwriters, so it’s best if you don’t have any contact with each other. I’m doing this for your own good.”
Xu Mo lowered his eyelashes and remained silent.
So these students who write essays for others are called ghostwriters.
The wealthy young man didn't mind, agreed on a time and place for their next meeting, and strode away with his head held high.
He didn't care at all whether Xu Mo wrote it or not. Even if Xu Mo didn't write it, someone else would. If Xu Mo was willing to write it, he could make a fortune.
Communication between the two parties is restricted to one-on-one, eliminating the possibility of information dissemination and preventing the leakage of buyer privacy.
This greatly pleased the benefactor who had gambled on the matter.
But it made Xu Mo feel tricky.
He stood there for a long time, so long that the birds resting on the branches all took flight again before footsteps could be heard.
Qi Huai, the young master of the Qi family, strode out, his fair face unusually troubled. "Brother Xu, you've really dragged me into a mess."
It turned out that half a month ago, Qi Huai had noticed that Xu Mo's behavior was abnormal. After several heart-to-heart questions, he couldn't get anything out of her. Xu Mo even begged him to erase the intimate traces of the six siblings and put the name of the tenant of the second courtyard under Aunt Zhang's name.
Thus, to outsiders like the wealthy young master, Xu Mo appeared to be a lonely and destitute man living with his aunt, troubled by the noise of his younger siblings, making him desperately want money to change his situation.
In return, Xu Mo did not reveal Qi Huai's spying.
Firstly, it satisfies Qi Huai's curiosity.
Secondly, they wanted to observe whether Qi Huai was truly capable of being used without revealing their hand.
I think back to the three friends I met at the Imperial College.
Zhao Yuan is simple, straightforward, and impulsive, while Zhu Sihuan is thoughtful but has limited power. Only Qi Huai, who has both status and intelligence, is the best candidate.
His passing the imperial examination at the very bottom of the class is hard to associate with gambling.
If Qi Huai, this scholar, really did come from an illegitimate background, and he overheard this scene today, Xu Mo could take the opportunity to get in touch with Qi Huai about the imperial examination, and thus delve deeper into the world of ghostwriters.
That truly kills three birds with one stone.
Fortunately, Qi Huai did not disappoint him.
The fair-skinned and handsome young man closed his folding fan and said with a helpless smile, "But if you really want to investigate, I will accompany you."
"Who told me to be the eldest son of the Minister of Rites?"
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