Chapter 211: Wen Rufeng drinks the magic water and can pass the exam
Wansong Courtyard.
For nearly half a month, Xie Guanlan didn't come back for dinner.
At dusk, the breeze was cool, and Wen Xingluo and Xie Shian sat side by side under the eaves eating watermelon.
Xie Shian said mysteriously, "I heard that there's a kind of magic water that's popular on the market lately. After drinking it, you can remember everything you read. The provincial examination is coming soon, and many scholars are scrambling to buy it. Big brother has been busy with this matter lately."
Wen Xingluo had heard of the holy water.
At this time in my previous life, the holy water was very popular in Chengdu.
But she thought this thing was unreliable and didn't let Wen Rufeng drink it.
She asked, "What does this have to do with my eldest brother?"
"You know how alarmed my eldest brother is! He's convinced there's no way such a magical thing could exist. To prevent any harm to a scholar from drinking it, he brought back a bottle and asked my second brother to investigate what it is."
Xie Shian took a bite of watermelon and said, "My second brother said this stuff is made of poisonous mushrooms. After drinking it, you will have hallucinations. When you look at the test paper, you will feel that you can answer any question."
Wen Xingluo held the watermelon in his hand and smiled, "No one would be so stupid as to drink something of unknown origin before an exam, right?"
"Who can say for sure?" Xie Shian muttered. "Before exams, everyone is at their most crazy. When I was a kid, every time I had an exam, I would go to the temple with Song Er and the others and worship the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in every direction. As long as I could get good grades, I would believe anything others said. Forget drinking holy water, even if it was horse urine, there would definitely be people willing to give it a try!"
Hearing the stars falling, he smiled.
They believe everything others say and are willing to try anything, but they are unwilling to work harder on their own.
"But," she said seriously, "this is human nature. Before I take an exam, I always pray to the gods and Buddhas for good grades."
As the two were talking, footsteps were heard not far away.
Xie Shian looked over curiously, "Brother is back."
Xie Guanlan was exhausted, probably having just finished his business.
When he walked through the corridor and came closer, Xie Shian stood up obediently, "Brother."
Wen Xingluo followed suit and bowed.
Xie Guanlan glanced at the two of them.
Whenever they get together, they're either plotting something or gossiping about someone behind their back.
Glancing at the watermelon they were sharing on the tray, he frowned and asked Xie Shian, "Are you free?"
Xie Shian uttered an "ah," and said, "Well... I'm not very free..."
"The Autumn Examination will begin soon," Xie Guanlan said in a steady voice. "You will be responsible for leading the troops to patrol the Imperial Examination Hall. Starting tomorrow, you will train at the barracks for four hours every day."
Xie Shian: “…”
He knew that nothing good would happen when his elder brother came back!
After watching Xie Guanlan enter the house to pay his respects to the old concubine, Xie Shian scratched his hair in distress, "I haven't been to the military camp for many days, and I don't know where I lost my gun..."
He suddenly coughed as if remembering something, nudged Wen Xingluo with his elbow, and said in a low voice, "Is your cousin still living in your courtyard?"
"yes."
"I've always thought the sword she holds is quite impressive. It's even sharper and more beautiful than the swords in my father's collection. How about you let me borrow it? To be honest, my spear skills can actually be applied to swordsmanship!"
Wen Xingluo thought about it.
Given my cousin’s attitude towards Xie Shi’an, if Xie Shi’an asked her to borrow her sword, she would be unhappy and would stab him to death.
She said, "My cousin loves swords like his life, so I'll go with you to the market to pick one out."
"How can you find any good swords in an ordinary market?" Xie Shian said playfully, "How about, Fourth Brother take you to the black market?"
Wen Xingluo grew up in Chengdu, but had never been to the black market.
The two packed up and took a carriage to the black market in the north of the city the next day.
Wei Ying was very idle, and when he learned that there were many magical weapons on the black market, he followed them there.
The black market is located deep in the mountains.
Many vendors came to set up their stalls wearing hats and covering their faces. Wen Xingluo looked carefully and guessed that they might be selling stolen goods or things obtained from improper channels, or items that the government explicitly prohibited from being sold, so they did not dare to show their faces.
Most of the tourists who come to the black market wear wooden masks to show their identity. At first glance, it is impossible to tell who is who.
While Wen Xingluo was watching the fun, Wei Ying turned around and bought a pack of explosives.
Xie Shian admired her very much. "Cousin, to be honest, when I was in school, I often thought about blowing up the academy with explosives."
Wei Ying had no expression on her face.
Xie Si and Xie Zan look so much alike.
Even with the mask on, she hated him.
She said coldly, "I use it to blast the people I hate."
"Who does cousin hate?"
Wei Ying didn't say anything, just stared at him.
Xie Shian: “…”
He touched his nose, silently took two steps back and walked side by side with Wen Xingluo. He decided to ask the servants to watch the doors and windows after returning home to prevent them from being blown to death in the middle of the night.
Not long after walking, Wen Xingluo suddenly noticed four people standing at the stall in front.
They are Wen Rufeng and his four siblings.
It was probably their first time in the black market and they had no experience, so they were not wearing masks and were easily recognized.
Xie Shian also noticed it, and hurriedly pulled Wen Xingluo forward secretly.
There are two large wine jars on the stall here. The stall owner uses a gourd to scoop a spoonful of brown liquid from the wine jar and carefully pours it into a small bottle.
Xie Shian whispered, "This is the holy water I told you about. All the holy water on the market has been confiscated by my eldest brother. I didn't expect that there are still people sneaking into the black market to sell it."
Wen Xingluo looked around.
Normal scholars would not come to a dangerous place like the black market. It seems that her eldest brother is the only one who comes here to buy the holy water.
Wen Rufeng paid the money and took the holy water like a treasure, but he was still a little hesitant. "Yue Yin, is this thing really as magical as you say?"
"Of course," Wen Yueyin said proudly, "It's precisely because it's so magical that Xie Guanlan has banned it. Otherwise, if everyone drank the holy water, wouldn't everyone be able to pass the imperial examination?"
Wen Ruyun praised, "Yue Yin is really smart. She actually thought of buying the holy water from a place like the black market. Big brother, you can rest assured now. You will definitely get first place in the next provincial examination. I've already said that Yue Yin is the lucky star of our family. You, just wait to be the third place winner!"
Wen Rufeng smiled shyly, "There are so many talented people in the world. I may not be able to get the third place in the exam. You should keep a low profile."
"I don't think this holy water is reliable." Wen Rulei, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said.
Wen Yueyin was unhappy, "Third brother, what do you mean?"
Wen Rulei glared at her, "Xingluo never gave big brother the holy water, but didn't big brother still pass the exam and get the third place?!"
Wen Yueyin sneered, "That's why big brother only got the third place! If big brother had drunk the magic water, he would have gotten the first place! The people who sell the magic water said that the top scorers in previous years all got in by drinking their magic water!"
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