Pan Wei patted Shen Laosan on the shoulder, pretending to comfort him: "It's alright, Brother Shen, we're all in the same boat."
Shen Laosan: "Thank you for your comfort, Brother Pan."
Pan Wei pondered. Shen Laosan didn't seem to be lying, and he wasn't actually sitting to his left during the exam. How could he know whether Shen Laosan had almost not finished the paper?
Pan Wei was calculating in his mind, but on the surface he still looked like he had met a kindred spirit: "I saw Brother Shen looking into the crowd just now, is there a relative waiting for you?"
Shen Laosan nodded. He always felt a strange sense of repulsion towards the man in front of him, so he said, "Yes, my wife and children are waiting for me, so I won't chat any longer."
"Alright, Brother Shen, take care. See you the day after tomorrow."
Shen Laosan glanced at him. Although Pan Wei was smiling, his words sounded like he was wishing him success in the exam.
I just don't know if that's what they mean, or if they're just indirectly trying to find out about him.
Old Shen was still cautious and didn't respond, saying, "I'll take my leave now."
Pan Wei suffered in silence, coldly watching him walk forward. The servant who had been hiding in the crowd immediately came over and asked, "Young master, should we follow?"
Pan Wei couldn't understand why the crown prince was so close to this man; he had clearly seen them laughing and talking with his own eyes.
But after this probing, Shen Huaixu was completely airtight; he couldn't get any useful information out of him.
If it's really as Shen Huaixu himself said, that he almost didn't finish the exam, wouldn't it be a waste of his time to investigate him?
However, if Shen Huaixu really has a close relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince, if he can befriend Shen Huaixu, wouldn't he be able to get close to His Highness the Crown Prince through him?
Pan Wei pondered for a long time with a sullen face. The servant couldn't help but ask before he said, "Forget it, what great use can a poor scholar be? At worst, I will personally visit His Highness the Crown Prince. With my teacher's influence, he can't refuse to see me, can he?"
The servant busied himself flattering him, which calmed Pan Wei down. Shen Laosan was nowhere to be found on the bustling street.
Pan Wei gave a light snort and left with his servant.
At the entrance of the examination hall, Gu Ziyi walked out, his eyes fixed on Pan Wei's back, and whispered, "Zhuifeng, keep an eye on him."
*
Shen Laosan walked quickly toward the group of one adult and two children waiting for him in the corner, feeling a warmth in his heart.
When Yang saw him, she was delighted. She first observed his expression and saw that he was very relaxed, so she breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems pretty good.
Lili quickly calculated and concluded that it was a sure thing.
"Daddy, Daddy, how was it? Was it fun?"
Shen Laosan picked up Lili in his arms, and Yang Shi came over to listen to what he had to say.
The group talked as they walked toward the inn.
Hearing Shen Laosan himself say that he had performed steadily, Yang was overjoyed.
After thinking for a moment, Shen Laosan recounted what had just happened.
Upon hearing that the man's surname was Pan, Yang felt a strange sense of familiarity with the surname.
Lili was taken aback. His surname was Pan?
It can't be such a coincidence.
Lili asked him what his name was, but Shen Laosan said that the man only said his surname was Pan.
Lili pouted, as if something was about to happen.
*
The next day at noon, the entrance to the examination hall was still packed with people.
The officer in charge of posting the notices, under the gaze of everyone, held a roll of red paper in one hand and a bucket of glutinous rice glue in the other.
"They're here! They're here!"
The crowd started to make a fuss, and those who arrived a little late could only stand on the outside and couldn't squeeze in at all.
Yang tried several times but couldn't get it right, so she had to stand on tiptoe and try her best to look in that direction.
"There are so many people, I can't even see them."
Shen Laosan remained calm about the exam: "It's alright, we can take the test again after everyone leaves."
Lili didn't say anything. She felt that perhaps she could know the result without even looking.
because…….
"I see it! I see it! Who's in first place?"
"I saw it, his surname is Chen!"
"Shen Huaixu?"
"The first place winner is Shen Huaixu! Who is this gentleman?"
"The first place in the main examination is Shen Huaixu, the second place is Pan Wei... Congratulations to the top three!"
Yang was taken aback.
Did she hear that right?
Yang shouted, "Everyone, who is the first place winner?"
A voice rang out from the crowd: "Shen Huaixu! Is this gentleman here? Let us pay him a proper visit!"
Yang covered her mouth, unable to believe her ears, and then grabbed Shen Laosan's hand: "Sanlang, did you hear that!"
Shen Laosan was also somewhat surprised, but remained calm. Seeing Yang Shi's joy, he comforted her, "Don't get excited. Now we don't need to go to the front to see."
Lili and Shen Jialuo clapped their hands, exclaiming, "Wow, Daddy's amazing!"
Shen Laosan smiled, glanced at the list from afar, and felt a great sense of relief.
At least he managed to finish the exam peacefully.
As for the first place, it was indeed a bit of a surprise.
Some were happy while others were sad. The family of four left happily, but Pan Wei, after hearing the servant's report, smashed his teacup in anger.
"You're not seeing things?"
Pan Wei's face turned bright red. He grabbed the servant's collar in disbelief, his nostrils flaring, and his eyes wide open: "Who did you say came in first place?"
The servant replied tremblingly, "Shen...Shen Huaixu..."
"And what about me?"
"second……."
Pan Wei was so angry that he threw the servant to the ground and kicked him.
"You bastard Shen Huaixu, you bastard Shen Huaixu!"
Pan Wei thought about what Shen Huaixu had said yesterday and felt ridiculous.
Pan Wei was so angry he laughed.
"How can he be number one... how can he be ahead of me!"
Pan Wei gritted his teeth and stood with his hands on his hips. What would Zeng Hua think of him if he knew that he had failed the exam for a poor scholar?
He left the capital with great confidence, declaring that he would win every championship.
If he were to be outdone by this poor scholar in the end, how would people in the capital laugh at him?
Where did Shen Huaixu come from?
Could he really be a retainer trained by His Highness the Crown Prince?
Thankfully, this is just the result of the actual test.
The final result of the entrance examination will also depend on tomorrow's re-examination.
As long as Shen Huaixu ranks low in tomorrow's re-examination, and even if Pan Wei doesn't get first place, getting into the top three will definitely make him the top candidate overall.
How can we lower Shen Huaixu's ranking?
Pan Wei's mind raced with thoughts, and finally he instructed the servant who had gotten up from the ground: "Go and find the weakest candidate on that list, preferably one who got there by luck..."
The servant listened carefully to Pan Wei's words and hurried off to do so.
Pan Wei took a deep breath, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, and went out to look for someone.
As for who to contact?
Ah, what is his status? He is the only son of the Pan family, his father is the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and his great-aunt is the Princess Consort of Jing.
Any minor official in Nanlin County with a long-term vision should know how to quickly rise through the ranks in the officialdom.
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