"Fan Yushu grabbed his bag and ran off as soon as the class was over. He looked so happy, he must have gone back to the city to hang out. Look how depressed he is. If you didn't know him, you would think he got first place in the exam and went back to report the good news."

Xiao Hongyu curled her lips, then shrugged at Zhao Rong and said, "Xueyou was picked up by her family after school. She made progress in the exam, so Uncle Li will cook for her. Many colleagues have returned to Duyou City after school. They have been depressed for too long because of the exam, and now it is finally over. We have finally had a long holiday, so we all want to relax and go out to play or go home."

Actually, I also want to run back to find my wife... Zhao Rong said silently in his heart.

He wanted to ask why you didn't leave, but he soon realized that after all, not all of the people in Shuexing Hall were locals whose families lived in Duyou. There were also many students like Yu Huaijin, Xiao Hongyu, and Jia Tengying who came from other continents or the mountains to study. Or they were illegitimate children who were not valued in the family and it didn't matter whether they went back or not.

Besides, didn’t Zhao Rong himself also come from the Great Chu at the foot of the mountain? It’s just that for him, wherever Qingjun and Xiaoxiao Qian’er are, that’s his home.

Zhao Rong went into the house and brought out a few tables and benches. After Jia Tengying came out with the tea, everyone sat down in the yard, eating dates and drinking tea. The evening breeze blew by, and it was quite relaxing.

Zhao Rong turned to a girl who was sitting upright and smiled, "I trust the others, but Brother Yu is definitely not here just to drink tea and chat with me."

To his surprise, Yu Huaijin nodded and said, "Dates are delicious."

"Someone really saw it. Who reported it?" Zhao Rong was stunned, half believing and half doubting.

Yu Huaijin suppressed his lip curve.

"No, it just happened... Wait, are you sure this date has no owner?"

"should."

"What do you mean by should? Brother Zhao, you are not only the number one in Ruxing Hall, but also the number one in the academy. You are a role model for hundreds of students. You must pay attention to your every move, because it will be graded by the teachers in the academy."

"When it comes to good students, Brother Huai Jin is indeed more experienced, but...how will he grade them?"

"Of course it's the book that Shanzhang used to select the seeds for reading."

Wu Peiliang couldn't help but whispered, "I heard that the teacher likes to take notes in a small notebook privately."

Zhao Rong listened in curiously and couldn't help but ask, "There is such a thing? Well, Brother Wu, tell me in detail."

Yu Huaijin frowned and glanced at Wu Peiliang, who immediately shut up and looked outside the gate like a thief. Yu Huaijin continued with a straight face, "It is said that in the academy, every student or scholar who enters the vision of the headmaster will be registered in a book by him. Anything can be used as a plus or minus point, and finally it will be used as an important basis for selecting the seeds for the next grand ceremony."

Xiao Hongyu also poked her head out to gossip, "It is said that a few years ago, a gifted senior brother was promoted to a scholar. Later, when he was playing chess with the Master, he had a chance to glance at the booklet. After returning, he whispered that the Master was really observant of every detail."

"What do you mean by being observant of every detail? Doesn't it just mean that the Master is narrow-minded?" Zhao Rong, who had been listening for a long time, finally understood and shook his head with a smile.

Everyone except Yu Huaijin nodded and agreed with it.

"Brother Ziyu, be careful with your words." It was still a warning from someone with a 'stern face'.

Zhao Rong smiled and took a sip of tea. Yu Huaijin hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Master, this is fair and just... whoever is promoted to a reading seed is justified and not without reason."

Zhao Rong put down the teacup, wiped the ripe dates with his sleeve, took a bite, and said confidently: "Then my score must be not low now. My handsome deeds in Dali must have been heard by the teacher and shocked him. The heroic figure who won the first place in the academy exam this time is also so deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and there is no deduction for it."

"..."Everyone.

Yu Huaijin looked at him silently without saying anything.

Zhao Rong seemed a little embarrassed by Yu Huaijin's stare. He coughed twice and asked seriously, "Brother Yu, you reminded me of this. There is only one spot for the Reading Seed. Aren't you afraid that someone else will take it away?"

"Why should I be afraid? And why should I talk about 'grabbing'? I told you, Master is fair and just, and the person chosen this time will definitely be someone with both talent and virtue. If that person is me, why should I be afraid of not being chosen. If that person is not me, and there is someone better, then I can't take it away no matter what."

"In short, what's yours won't escape, and what's not yours can't be forced, right?" Zhao Rong asked with a smile.

"Yes."

If Zhao Rong didn't know that the girl in front of him who was frowning and asking questions was Senior Yu Huaijin, there was no doubt that she said this. He almost thought that the headmaster was listening behind everyone at this moment.

"I understand. I will pay more attention to it." Zhao Rong tossed the crisp dates with his left hand and nodded seriously.

"I'm definitely not here to drink tea and eat dates." Yu Huaijin put down the teacup, took out a stack of things from his sleeve and handed them to Zhao Rong, "The teacher took you away early after school just now. As soon as you left, people brought you invitations and keepsakes one after another. I collected them all for you and brought them to you on the way."

Zhao Rong took it curiously, "This is..."

"They are invitations to poetry banquets and elegant gatherings. Most of them are hosted by senior brothers who are talented and respected in the academy. It's the end of the year now, and these literary gatherings are quite frequent. It also happens to be a holiday in the academy. However, in the past, we Mo Chi students were rarely invited."

"Then why did you send me an invitation?"

"What do you think?"

"I'm number one in the academy, and the leader of the six halls. I'm really troubled... Hey, why are you shaking your head?"

"Not only that, it's not uncommon to get first place in the exam, but..." Yu Huaijin shook his head and said calmly: "You got full marks in both the classics and poetry. You are too impressive. Many teachers and scholars in the academy know your name now."

Zhao Rong smiled awkwardly and was about to pretend to be modest when Yu Huaijin said, "And the fact that you only scored 6 points in Music Arts."

"..."Zhao Rong.

Very good, it seems that now the whole academy knows that I am tone-deaf.

Zhao Rong asked a little unhappy: "What about you, the second in the academy, don't they want to invite you?"

Yu Huaijin shook his head and then nodded.

Xiao Hongyu spoke up for her, "In fact, when Huai Jin ranked first in the exam, the senior brothers also invited Huai Jin, although not as many invitations as this time. But Huai Jin declined all of them. After declining twice, no one invited him again."

"oh."

Zhao Rong nodded, and in front of everyone, threw the invitation in his hand onto the table.

"So do I," he said casually.

Everyone in the courtyard looked at each other. Yu Huaijin frowned slightly. Jia Tengying also turned to look at Zhao Rong, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Zhao Rong asked with a smile.

"I'm not being arrogant, I just really don't have time. I'm very busy during the holidays..." For example, making breakfast for the eldest and second wives, he added in his heart.

Jia Tengying pulled Zhao Rong and said, "Zi Yu, why don't you reconsider it? This is a rare opportunity..." Everyone nodded and gave some advice.

Seeing Zhao Rong's puzzled expression, Yu Huaijin didn't waste any more time beating around the bush and said calmly:

"Brother Ziyu, it's like this. When senior brothers invite students from Mochi to these poetry gatherings, it's not just for the purpose of reciting poems and getting to know each other. There is another meaning and test in it... These senior brothers are actually observing or getting to know you for their own teachers, in preparation for the apprenticeship ceremony after graduation next year."

"Directly accepting disciples on behalf of the master?"

"Of course not, it can only be regarded as paving the way in advance. Moreover, the academy is actually against the orthodox teachers of the academy having too much contact with the students of Mo Chi before the apprenticeship ceremony. After all, compared with the teachers, the students are at a disadvantage, and early contact may lead to unfairness. But who wouldn't want a good seedling emerging in the academy?" Xiao Hongyu couldn't help but interrupt.

She is familiar with the unwritten rules of this kind of academy and talks about them with great relish:

"Therefore, most of these brothers who sent invitations must have heard your name mentioned by their own teachers several times, or praised you in public, so they just went ahead and sent you an invitation regardless of whether it was a hint or not. If you really become a junior disciple in the future, wouldn't it be better? It would be a kind of support."

Yu Huaijin glanced at Xiao Hongyu and the others who had become excited for Zhao Rong, shook his head, and turned to Zhao Rong and told him:

"But you must know that becoming a disciple is not a forced sale. Students also have the right to refuse. It has to be a two-way choice, so you have to like each other... In fact, I still suggest that you take some time out in the next few days to attend a few literary gatherings."

She glanced at the scattered invitations on the table and pointed out, "I just took a rough look. You have a lot more invitations than I did before, and there are one or two very powerful academy teachers among them. They are the dream targets of many students in each class. One of them is even a top staff member of the Duyou City Lord's Mansion and a guest of honor of several major families in East City."

Facing the earnest persuasion of classmates such as Xiao Hongyu, Jia Tengying, and Wu Peiliang, Zhao Rong did not answer, but just tilted his head to look into Yu Huaijin's calm eyes, "Why didn't you go before?"

"I only have one master, and I will only worship her." The girl named Xuan Ji said simply.

Zhao Rong smiled and nodded in agreement, "Me too."

The girl's eyes suddenly became alert and she stared at him.

Zhao Rong helplessly spread his hands, "I'm not trying to steal Mr. Zhu from you. I mean, I have a choice. It was Mr. Yan who used the special student quota to push me into the academy, so I just took him as my teacher and learned the classics. It's that simple."

Yu Huaijin was slightly startled, and everyone couldn't help but look at him sideways.

…