Having the headmaster directly assess students, bypassing the master, has both advantages and disadvantages.
Xiao Yunying knew that scholars like them, especially those from humble backgrounds, if they were truly upright and virtuous, would greatly dislike those who used connections and back channels to get ahead.
Chen Yuancheng must have used some favor to obtain these three invitations personally written by the headmaster of Yunshan Academy.
The headmaster couldn't refuse, which is why he said he would personally assess the candidate instead of accepting the offer outright.
It is said that one should not avoid recommending relatives for the best, but the premise is that they must have real talent and learning, otherwise it will only leave a bad impression on the headmaster.
Even if you barely pass in the end, the impression left on the headmaster will be hard to correct in a short time, so it's better to honestly participate in the major exam.
In this world, the standards for the character of scholars are very high. If one wants to take the imperial examination, the evaluation of those around them is very important, especially the evaluation of their teachers and the headmasters of the academies.
There are disadvantages as well as advantages.
If one catches the eye of the headmaster, one is likely to be accepted as a closed-door disciple. Even if not, one will receive more guidance and care in daily studies.
When the imperial examinations were held, the headmaster and tutors would proactively help you find connections to solve your problems with food, clothing, and lodging. Some would even provide financial assistance, offering considerable help.
In short, if you have genuine talent and skills, and share the same values, you'll catch the eye of the headmaster, who will then naturally look favorably upon you and proactively find ways to help you.
If you lack talent and learning, then you are an opportunistic and immoral person. I'm sorry, but I just don't like you. Even if you improve your talent and learning in the future, the impression you leave behind will not be easily changed.
For the Luo brothers, having her around meant they had no shortage of money, but what they lacked was connections. Having connections meant they could rely on her appropriately and avoid many detours.
Xiao Yunying didn't interfere in this matter. Looking at the gift list casually, she said, "Whether you want to accept the headmaster's personal assessment or not is up to you."
I saw the black chicken, Wuyi black tea, and an eight-colored pastry box. This must have been sent by that little foodie Chen Yuanxuan. And the double-sided embroidered handkerchief? That must have been sent by Yuan Yao.
Well, there's no problem with the other New Year's gifts.
Xiao Yunying took the double-sided embroidered handkerchief and admired it. There were two handkerchiefs in the box. One was embroidered with a cat and a dog, and the other was embroidered with a bamboo and cherry blossom tree.
She murmured to herself, "So beautiful, it's practically a work of art. Who would bear to use it to wipe their hands?"
Kittens and puppies have similar fur colors, so embroidering them should be relatively simple.
The bamboo and cherry blossom trees are completely different colors. I don't know how they were embroidered, but you can't see any color mixing on either side.
She should keep such beautiful embroidery safe and look at it from time to time; it's so pleasing to the eye.
The two brothers discussed it for a while, and Luo Chen said, "Mother, we've decided that we'll take the big exam instead of the headmaster's personal test."
Xiao Yunying folded the handkerchief and put it back in the box.
"Have you thought it through?"
She had a feeling the children would refuse, so she wasn't too surprised.
Because she could sense that they had their own pride and wouldn't do something like "pulling strings and using connections."
Luo Chen put the invitation back into the brocade box and returned it to Xiao Yunying: "You've thought it through."
Xiao Yunying shook the box: "You are all very smart, you should know what this post represents. I can't guarantee Luo Li's safety, but you and Luo Yang should be fine. Do you really want to give up such a good opportunity?"
Furthermore, you must understand that I can only provide you with a good material life and learning environment; I cannot offer any assistance during your scientific expeditions.
Luo Yang said decisively, "Mother, you don't need to say anything more. We know."
"Alright, I'll talk to Yuancheng after the New Year and ask him to give the headmaster a reply."
Xiao Yunying placed the box on the table: "I hope this headmaster is a broad-minded person and won't be resentful because you refused this matter."
After speaking, she secretly glanced at the two children's expressions, which remained unchanged, showing that she had made up her mind.
Alright, it's a good thing that the children have their own opinions. All she has to do is support them and respect their choices. She doesn't need to worry about anything else.
Moreover, she had confidence in the children, believing they could successfully enter Yunshan Academy on their own without relying on anyone.
She picked up the black-boned chicken that had finished eating and put it back in her basket. She washed her hands and stacked several boxes together. "Help me put out the oil lamp and go back to the house to sleep."
Carrying the box back into the house, Luo Li saw her return and tried to get off the kang (a heated brick bed).
Xiao Yunying put all the brocade boxes on the table: "Don't rush off, stay with Xin'er for a while, I'm going to wash up."
She went to the washroom, scooped hot water from the large pot used for boiling water between the men's and women's rooms, mixed it with well water, and washed her face and brushed her teeth.
After washing up and going outside, I shivered from the cold wind. I heard the little goat in the backyard bleating, so I shone my flashlight over.
"Little lamb, what are you bleating about? Oh, you've finished eating the grass."
He forked a bunch of grass and put it into the stone trough, then added water: "Stop yelling, you're disturbing the neighbors late at night, you know? Eat up."
They've gotten quite fat from eating so much. We'll slaughter a whole roasted lamb and eat it on National Day, hehe.
Such wicked thoughts were not suitable for the little goat to hear, so she only thought about them in her heart and did not say them aloud.
After checking that the bolts on the front and back doors were fine, he shone a flashlight on every nook and cranny, inspecting the area all the way back to the house. After letting Luo Li leave, he locked the door, took off his coat, and lay down.
After putting Luo Xin to sleep, she took the cloak that Chen Yuancheng had lent her and went into the supermarket restroom.
"Silk seems to be unsuitable for hot water."
I filled a basin with warm water and soaked the cloak. I chose a color-fixing and brightening laundry detergent, washed the cloak twice, rinsed it clean, and hung it on the rope to drain.
"The cloak was quite heavy after absorbing water."
She didn't know much about silk, so she didn't dare wring out the water from the cloak, afraid that she would deform it beyond repair.
Just leave it to air dry; it will dry eventually, it'll just take a while.
After tidying up the bathroom, an idea suddenly popped into Xiao Yunying's head.
This supermarket seems to be quite smart.
The items on the shelves are refreshed and replenished automatically at midnight every day, and the clock doesn't move, as if time has stopped.
But the things she put in wouldn't be washed away, and the clothes she hung out to dry would remain dry, as if time hadn't stopped and was still moving forward.
It's strange that these two points appear in the same space at the same time.
After thinking for a while without finding a solution, Xiao Yunying washed her hands and said, "Whatever, as long as it works, why think so much?"
After changing her wet undershirt and pants, Xiao Yunying left the supermarket and heard the lambs bleating in the backyard one after another.
She lay on the warm kang (heated brick bed) too lazy to move, thinking the sheep would stop bleating after a few bleats, but she never expected it to keep bleating for so long.
Xiao Yunying sat up irritably, putting on her cotton-padded clothes: "What's wrong with this lamb? The mother lamb died yesterday. Could it be that she's slow to react and only noticed today?"
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