After the last county exam, all the children have mastered their skills.
If Xu Mo isn't at the top of the list, there's no point in seeing him on the ranking board.
If Xu Mo is at the top of the list, he won't even be seen on the promotion list.
It's better to stay in the woodshed and listen carefully for any sounds.
The brothers waited from the crack of dawn until the sun was high overhead, but the expected congratulations and the sound of gongs and drums never came.
Isn't he at the top of the list? Or did he fail to make the list?
The brothers were all wondering about it, but none of them dared to say it aloud.
Only Jiang Sheng, basking in the sun and eating cured meat, said happily, "I've already prepared some loose silver, exactly one tael."
It was only last time that she learned that the person who brings good news should be given a congratulatory gift, which could be as little as one or two taels of silver, or as much as possible.
Jiang Sheng immediately prepared according to the minimum standards.
In stark contrast to her optimism were the solemn faces, peering eyes, and hesitant steps of her five older brothers.
Just as they were wondering if the top spot had really gone to someone else, a gong and drum sounded.
Zheng Ruqian was the first to jump up and rush out with a shout of "Yo-ho!"
Fang Heng followed closely behind, as excited as a baboon.
Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan exchanged a glance. Both of them were rather gentle and slow. They jumped off the bed and put on their shoes. Before they even stepped out of the woodshed, Zheng Ruqian and Fang Heng had already returned.
One looked dejected, the other was pale and ashen.
Xu Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he asked softly, "Could it be that the student staying at the inn took first place?"
Zheng Ruqian shook his head indignantly, "It's a family next door holding a full-month celebration."
Xu Mo said "Oh," and suddenly felt that this kind of waiting was really unbearable. He would either take the top spot on the list and go to the government office, or he would rather take fifty lashes than take the top spot.
It's so unbearable to have my heart hanging in mid-air.
"Forget it." He suddenly stood up with a heavy heart. "Don't worry about being number one or not, let's go straight to the government office."
But before they could even put on their shoes, the sound of gongs and drums rang out again outside.
This time, none of them dared to move. They looked at each other, hesitating in place.
"They're probably hosting another baby shower celebration," Zheng Ruqian said in a muffled voice.
Fang Heng said sullenly, "It could also be someone's wedding."
Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan both sighed at the same time.
Xu Mo closed his eyes even more.
After finishing the last bite of cured meat, Jiang Sheng was licking the grease off her fingers when she noticed that her brothers all looked dumbfounded. She could only smack her lips, grab the one or two taels of silver that had been prepared on the table, and head to the front of the inn.
The waiter is talking to the people who are playing gongs and drums.
Upon seeing Jiang Sheng, he quickly pointed at her and said, "This, this is the younger sister of the boy who injured his buttocks."
The people banging gongs and drums rushed over immediately, singing in a high-pitched voice, "Congratulations to Xu Mo, the top scholar in the prefecture!"
Jiang Sheng smiled, her eyes crinkling, "Congratulations to you too."
He slipped another tael of silver over, and now everyone was truly happy.
The messenger left beaming with joy, leaving Jiang Sheng proudly holding the bright red news report, basking in the envious gazes of everyone in the inn.
"Little girl, your brother is really amazing. He'll be a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination) after passing the provincial examination." The waiter's attitude towards Jiang Sheng became much more polite.
The Great Yu Dynasty valued literature, but the path to the imperial examination was arduous. Many people grew old and gray without ever reaching the level of a mere student, not to mention those who struggled their entire lives to become scholars.
Xu Mo has achieved the top score in the prefectural examination at a young age, and his future is indeed promising.
Of course, this was under the premise that he did not know that Xu Mo had also won the county's top case.
Jiang Sheng thanked the waiter and skipped back to the woodshed. She put down the good news and then picked up a piece of cured meat to satisfy her craving.
"Little Jiang Sheng, what is this?" Zheng Ruqian was stunned.
Jiang Sheng chewed and drank water at the same time, "Great news! One tael of silver has already been given out."
Zheng Ruqian stared wide-eyed, speechless.
Fang Heng's hands trembled, and he suddenly rushed over, hugging Xu Mo while crying and laughing.
Wen Zhiyun's eyes were also filled with tears, so excited that she couldn't control herself and simply wiped all her tears on Chang Yan's body.
They were as terrified as they were during that time, and now they were overjoyed.
Xu Mo stood there stunned for a long time before grabbing the report of victory and saying, "Let's go to the government office."
The four younger brothers put on their shoes and tied their robes.
Even the massive mountain, which lives alone in a corner, wrapped itself up in its coat to lend a helping hand.
Jiang Sheng was still drinking water; she had eaten too much cured meat and was feeling unwell from the saltiness.
Zheng Ruqian picked her up and took her directly to the carriage.
They drove to the government office.
As soon as I parked the car, before I even went inside, I saw the Prefect of Anshui standing smiling at the entrance of the government office, with a man dressed as a clerk standing next to him.
They appear to be talking.
The governor of Anshui County said smugly, "I didn't misjudge you, did I?"
"...You're quite something." The advisor gritted his teeth. "Such a talent is one in a hundred years, and you actually managed to find one."
When the carriage stopped in front of them.
The prefect of Anshui quickly suppressed his wild smile and resumed his dignified and serious demeanor.
But when she saw Xu Mo stepping out of the carriage, the corners of her eyes couldn't help but curve upwards slightly.
"My lord." Xu Mo was about to kneel down immediately.
But the governor of Anshui County saved him.
"My lord?" This was a question uttered in confusion.
The Prefect of Anshui lifted him up, patted him on the shoulder, looked this outstanding young man up and down, and nodded, saying, "Not bad, not bad."
"You haven't let me down. You've come this far, from the top county official to the top prefectural official. You're not the same person you used to be."
Xu Mo was a little at a loss.
The advisor beside him pointed out, "The Great Yu Dynasty has a rule that if you get the top score in two exams, you don't need to take the provincial exam; you'll still be a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination)."
Xu Mo was stunned again.
Today's surprises came one after another, frequently and intensely. He had only been taking the county exam for a few months, yet he was already bracing himself to participate in the prefectural exam.
He was lucky enough to become the top scholar in the county, and then by a twist of fate, he became the top scholar in the prefecture.
Now, he is a scholar.
Scholar Xu.
He was no longer a commoner; he could stand in court without kneeling, be exempt from taxes and corvée labor, become a teacher in a school, and even take the imperial examinations under the guidance of a clerk.
His life was a smooth road.
Even if he were to encounter the magistrate of Xiyang County again, he would be fearless and could even retort or raise objections. The magistrate of Xiyang County would have no right to deal with him and would need to apply to the prefectural city to have his scholar title revoked before he could be detained and dealt with.
Xu Mo's eyes welled up with tears.
But even more exciting news was yet to come.
The Prefect of Anshui stroked his mustache and said with a smile, "The matter of the Magistrate of Xieyang County involves a wide range of issues. I know you are impatient to wait. In that case, let's go to Xieyang County to handle this injustice and collect more witnesses and evidence."
The clerk standing to the side widened his eyes and exclaimed, "No, no!"
The prefect of Anshui pretended not to hear and waved to get into the carriage.
With a neigh, dozens of yamen runners followed, heading in a grand procession towards Xieyang County.
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