Chapter 922: Spreading Fire
"It was the emperor who let me in. If you don't want me to come in, you can go and tell the emperor directly. If he doesn't let me in, I will go home." Bai Shan was on edge the whole way. He was told by all kinds of people to be patient. He knew he had to be patient, but when he was looked at by Lian Yucheng, he couldn't suppress his anger all of a sudden.
Bai Shan gave him a cold look, then looked at the academic officer behind him and asked, "Can this be done?"
Bai Dalang quickly pulled him aside and whispered, "Didn't I tell you to be patient when we were home?"
Bai Shan opened his mouth to speak, but Manbao reached out and grabbed his hand. He then pursed his lips, suppressed the anger in his chest with great willpower, and remained silent.
Seeing the young man's argument, the school officer quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying with a smile, "It's been recorded. There are only two schools missing from the imperial decree. They're expected to arrive in the next two days. The prison has scheduled the exams for July 1st. They'll last three days. The results will be released and students will be placed in the six schools according to their ranking."
He smiled and said, "Let Master Bai know that this time, His Majesty's decree has been issued for a total of twenty-four schools, with two places for each. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, there will be forty-eight students enrolled. Of the six schools, only the top three will be admitted from the Imperial College, twelve from the Imperial Academy, and twelve from the Four Gates School. The remaining twenty-one will be dispersed among the other three schools, and which college they will be assigned to will depend on their strengths."
Manbao asked curiously, "What if I'm not good at any of them?"
The officer smiled stiffly and said, "There's always something you're good at."
If there is really no one who is good at it, then we can only draw lots. Among the three colleges, whoever draws such a student will be unlucky.
Bai Dalang, Bai Shan and Manbao all turned their heads to look at Bai Erlang at the same time.
Bai Erlang met their gazes and said angrily, "Why are you looking at me? I'm sure I'll be chosen."
Manbao nodded and patted his shoulder.
The group and the academic officer took a reference iron plate and left, ignoring Lian Yucheng who was standing beside them.
Lian Yucheng watched them turn and leave, and couldn't help but frown at the academic officer, "Whose descendants of meritorious officials are they? How could they be so arrogant?"
The scholar laughed and said, "His father's position wasn't high, actually. He was the lowest-ranking among the meritorious officials named this time. He was the son of Bai Qi, the sixth-rank former magistrate of Shu County. He served the country loyally by suppressing bandits. His Majesty even praised him back then."
Lian Yucheng's eyes widened. "Bai Qi's son?"
"Why, do you know him?"
Lian Yucheng frowned and said, "He was a Jinshi in my previous class. I've heard of him, but I didn't expect he died so early. No wonder I haven't heard of him in all these years. He was very famous in the Imperial College back then."
The school official then said thoughtfully, "It seems that Bai Shan relies not on family background but on talent."
Lian Yucheng snorted, "This is the Imperial College, a place for studying. Talent is naturally the key. Those who rely on family background should go to the powerful and wealthy."
Lian Yucheng's expression brightened. "It won't be long before we know what he relies on. Ideally, it's talent, so he doesn't let his father down."
The student curled his lips inwardly, but responded with a smile on his face.
A group of five people left the Imperial College.
Manbao was still holding Baishan's hand. She turned her head to look at him and asked, "Why are you so angry all of a sudden?"
Bai Dalang was about to say something to him, but just as he was about to speak, Mr. Zhuang beside him reached out with a smile and gently patted Bai Shan on the head, saying, "It's okay, there's nothing wrong with what Shanbao said, just say it."
Everyone looked at Mr. Zhuang with their mouths wide open.
Mr. Zhuang looked around and asked, "Dalang, is there any good restaurant around here? How about I treat you to a meal of Beijing cuisine? See if it suits your taste. What would you like to eat?"
Manbao lowered his head to think about the menu. Bai Shan looked at Mr. Zhuang and asked, "Sir, don't you blame me?"
Mr. Zhuang smiled at him and said, "No wonder."
He paused and then said, "But don't be so reckless in the future."
After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about I take you to Xuandu to see the flowers tomorrow?"
Manbao asked, "Where is Xuandu Temple?"
"In Chongyefang," Mr. Zhuang said, "we're going to climb up and see the distant view. Now is a good time to do so."
A young man, two boys, and a girl all looked up at the bright sun in the sky, and at the same time felt that the gentleman was telling lies.
On a hot summer day, shouldn't this be a good time to stay home in the shade, eat some cheese, and listen to some stories?
Mr. Zhuang didn't give them much time to think. He turned around and got in the car, then waved to them, "Hurry up and get in. Be careful of heatstroke if you stand in the sun for too long."
The four of them then got into their respective carriages.
Manbao then realized that she had been holding Bai Shan's hand. She quickly let go and climbed onto the carriage to get a good seat.
Bai Erlang walked behind Bai Shan and asked him curiously, "Why are the tips of your ears red? Did you get heatstroke?"
Bai Shan climbed onto the carriage, turned around and glanced at him and said, "No, stop talking."
Daji watched the three people from the side and jumped into the carriage after they were all on board.
Mr. Zhuang was particularly generous today and treated them to a very expensive meal outside. The next day, he did not force them to read or write, but instead took them to Chongyefang and climbed all the way to Xuandu Temple.
It is said that you can see far from a high place, but Xuandu Temple is not very high. Standing at its highest point and looking down, you can only see Chongyefang, and you cannot see any place farther away.
Bai Dalang knew their hobbies because when he returned home, Mr. Bai had complained more than once about his second brother's love for hiking, and his second brother had often invited him to go hiking together.
Bai Dalang doesn't like it.
He was sweating profusely at this moment and leaned aside and said, "If you want to climb a high mountain, you have to go out of the city. There are no particularly high mountains in the city."
He didn't understand why they couldn't just walk up slowly and rest while coming to the Taoist temple, but had to climb up in one breath. Didn't they know that they would sweat, look embarrassed, and be disrespectful?
Bai Shan also sweated a lot, but he felt very refreshed. He let out a long breath, put his palms to his mouth and screamed.
When Manbao and Bai Erlang saw this, they also started yelling down the mountain like morning glory, frightening Bai Dalang so much that he almost jumped up...
He stared at the three people with wide eyes, completely confused as to why they were yelling like that. He looked around nervously and saw that the people nearby were also startled by them and turned to look at them.
But when he saw that they were three lively boys and girls, he turned his head back and said helplessly in his heart: Forget it, they are still young.
Mr. Zhuang found a rock to sit on, as if nothing had happened. When they had shouted enough, he waved to them and called them over, handing them the kettle.
After they all drank the water, he asked, "Has the anger in your heart dissipated?"
Manbao nodded sheepishly, and Bai Shan also nodded with a red face, "It's scattered."
Bai Erlang chuckled and said, "I just don't have a temper."
Mr. Zhuang praised him: "Well, you are better than the other two this time."
Bai Erlang became proud and looked at the two of them happily.
See you tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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