After Wei Xi and Mei Ruochu left, Wei Shu, who was about to take the college entrance examination in more than two months, plunged into his happy old home - [Simulation Room]. In order to devote himself fully, he even did not come out to eat, and asked Chen Cui to set aside some food and leave it at the door. This is really just like putting food in the cell.
The academy examination is much more difficult than the previous county examination and prefectural examination. According to the data analysis provided by the system, the admission rate of scholars is less than one-tenth each year.
So it’s no wonder that Wei Shu took it so seriously.
He was well-developed in all aspects, so Chen Cui just let him go.
Later, seeing that Wei Shu was working so hard, Mu Erpang also became more motivated - before, Lao Buyu was teaching two grades, and now the "senior grades" are preparing for the exam, so all his time can be reserved for Mu Erpang.
Mu Erpang has studied for several years, and the only thing missing from the Four Books and Five Classics is the most profound "Book of Changes".
He will be finishing his course in the early spring of next year. After finishing this book, he will have to go through the previous one from beginning to end to see if there are any omissions in his studies and fill in the gaps.
Mu Erpang didn't know that his own academy had a time bonus, which meant that one day could be used as two days. He just felt that time was running out, and his sleeping time was reduced by half an hour.
Before Mei Ruochu went to the provincial capital, he had already compiled the teaching plan for "The Book of Changes" and handed it to Lao Buyu.
Both the teacher and the student found this educational model, which was similar to that of later generations, novel and novel. Not only did they stay at their desks during breaks, they even stayed at their desks for meals. One taught while the other learned, and they were completely engrossed in the learning.
The children were becoming more and more independent-minded, and Shen Cui did not interfere. She just kept a close eye on their data panels, fearing that they would study too hard in preparation for the exam and hurt their health.
But it's also quite funny to say that in modern times, teachers are afraid that students are not paying attention and not working hard enough.
When it comes to her, she feels that the atmosphere in the academy is too good. She is not afraid that they will not be eager to learn, but she is afraid that they will learn too much and it will affect their health or mood.
Fortunately, this did not happen.
The academy is usually bustling. Apart from other things, the eight-person table for dining is always full.
Now, the only ones who can sit together and eat slowly are Shen Cui and Zhou.
Zhou has been increasingly worried lately, and her physical condition has been declining. Shen Cui couldn't just sit back and watch.
When they were the only two left at the table, Shen Cui asked, "You haven't looked well these past few days. Are you worried about Yunchuan?"
Zhou didn't want to bother Chen Cui with her own affairs. Although the college entrance examination was the students' business, Chen Cui, as the headmaster, had to accompany the students in their studies, do needlework, cook, and take care of everything. She also lost weight and was not much more relaxed than the students.
But since Chen Cui asked, Zhou did not hide it and said, "My husband will take part in the provincial examination this year. Of course, I am not worried about his talent. He can pass the exams and get the 'small three yuan' in a row. It shouldn't be difficult for him to pass the imperial examination."
Having said this, Zhou paused and felt a little embarrassed. She had been in the academy for such a long time that she had learned quite a few words through osmosis, but compared with any other scholar in the academy, she was still the least knowledgeable one.
So she didn't know whether her current estimate was too arrogant.
But she was only talking to Chen Cui, and there were no outsiders, so she continued, "After he passes the exam, he will be a juren master. What will happen next? Will he stay outside to prepare for the exam, or go to Beijing early to prepare for the next year's joint examination? If he goes to Beijing early, will he have enough money? The capital... I don't know how far it is, but I only heard from others that it is a place where every inch of land is worth gold. How much money will it cost to go there? In the past two years, you have provided me with food and drink, and you didn't allow me to help the family. The money I saved was all for him to go to Beijing to take the exam. But in the first few letters, my husband always said that he didn't lack money and asked me not to worry. But the more he told me not to worry, the more uneasy I felt... And if he went to the capital, it would be really far away, and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to send him a few letters a year."
She talked for a long time, and Shen Cui listened patiently.
In the final analysis, it was because they had been separated for too long, and the letters Mu Yunchuan wrote back were vague and full of whitewashing words.
Even Zhou, who had always believed in him unconditionally, felt insecure, which led to her becoming more and more concerned.
According to the plot of the original book, Zhou was the root cause of the illness at this moment.
But the original book did not describe her in much detail, so Shen Cui took it for granted that it was just a matter of hard work, and thought that if she solved this problem for her, she could rest assured.
Now it seems that psychological problems were partly responsible for her later illness.
Heart disease needs to be treated with heart medicine. Even with the support of the system, Chen Cui could not replace Mu Yunchuan to give her this sense of security.
"Did I...did I say too much and annoy you?" After a long chatter, seeing that Chen Cui didn't say a word, Zhou said with some annoyance, "I really don't want to bother you with these things. But..."
But she really had feelings for Shen Cui. Moreover, Shen Cui has always been the one who makes decisions on all matters big or small in the family, as if everything is no longer a problem when it comes to her. When Shen Cui asked, she seemed to have lost control of her mouth. It's like a child who is full of grievances and is waiting for adults to help him find a solution.
Chen Cui reached out and patted the back of her hand, comforting her: "I don't find you annoying, but I'm thinking about what you said. After all, you two have been apart more than together since you got married. Of course, he is studying abroad for a serious matter. But it's not a good thing for a couple to be separated from each other like this. I guess he should come back after the provincial examination. When the time comes, you might as well ask directly to accompany him to Beijing for the examination."
"I...I'm going to Beijing?" Zhou was stunned, and then quickly denied it: "No, how much money would it take for two people to travel? I'm afraid the money I've saved is..."
"As the saying goes, a poor scholar makes a rich juren. When he passes the imperial examination, you won't have to worry about money." Apart from anything else, Chen Cui was still very confident in Mu Yunchuan's ability to make money. Of course, this does not mean that he is corrupt or accepts bribes, but the higher he gets in the exam, the less he needs to hide his shortcomings. With his outstanding talent, his articles and poems attracted other literati to read. In the original book, after he won four top prizes in a row, he became famous in his own prefecture and county, not to mention other places. He came back and chose a bookseller to cooperate with, started publishing his own collection of poems and essays, and earned his first pot of gold.
After he won six prizes in a row, the price of his poetry collection was sold at a terrifying level. Not to mention the countless people who came to ask for his calligraphy and paintings. It was no exaggeration to say that every word was worth a thousand gold.
It can be said that as long as he passes the provincial examination, he will not be short of money.
And based on her understanding of Mu Yunchuan, he has been disguising himself since he was young, and is actually quite cold-hearted.
But for Zhou, who only had him in her heart and eyes, he was still somewhat different from others.
Now that Zhou has gotten back on her feet and has no chronic illness, it's time for her to reunite with Mu Yunchuan and his wife and resolve the hidden dangers of her psychological problems.
Otherwise, if the plot of the original book had really been followed, when Mu Yunchuan passed the imperial examination and joined the Hanlin Academy, and Zhou went to the capital... by then, the couple had been separated for too long, and time had worn away the little affection they had, and there was a lack of the process of knowing each other, accompanying each other, and working together, it would have been like the saying "the closest and most distant couple". It means you have to start from scratch as strangers and rebuild the relationship.
And it was impossible for Zhou to divorce and remarry... Not to mention that she had been devoted to Mu Yunchuan all these years, asking her to divorce would be the same as asking for her life. Mu Yunchuan would not allow himself to cause a family crisis and affect his reputation after he became rich.
That's why Shen Cui made this suggestion.
Zhou said, "Even if the money is enough, but...but..."
In fact, she didn't know what "but" meant. Earlier, I had been thinking that the current separation was only temporary, and that after my husband got his exam results, we would eventually be together.
But she was just afraid, an indescribable fear, afraid of everything unknown. I was afraid that Mu Yunchuan would not agree, and I was even more afraid that I was no longer worthy of him.
"Don't be afraid." Seeing the hesitation on her face, Chen Cui comforted her gently, "He is taking the external examination, and you are in charge of the household affairs, saving money, and helping him support his stepmother and take care of his younger brother. You are a proper daughter-in-law of the Mu family, so don't be afraid of anything."
Zhou said blankly that she needed to think about it.
However, there was still a lot of time before Mu Yunchuan returned home after taking the provincial examination, so Shen Cui did not force her to make up her mind immediately.
…………
On the morning of the April provincial examination, the experienced Chen Cui got up before dawn, did some needlework, and observed the data panels of Wei Xi and Mei Ruochu.
When Mei Ruochu's luck value started to decrease by -5 and then increased by +5, Chen Cui guessed that he had probably gone through the body search.
Later, as the system said, after the body search, it was time for the candidates to enter the examination room, and his luck value dropped by 30.
But fortunately, Shen Cui made a lot of things for him, and he was really obedient and wore all the extra ones.
So after falling by 30, his luck value quickly returned to 80.
The provincial examination lasted for four consecutive days, and Mei Ruochu's luck value kept fluctuating in the examination room, but the same thing still applies, because Shen Cui had done enough needlework, she could immediately make up for any losses.
As for Wei Xi, his physical condition had improved to 70. After staying in the examination room for four consecutive days, his score dropped by 2 points, but overall he was much stronger than before and he probably didn't get sick.
Nothing could be seen about Shen Cui later, because both of them were in a very high mood. Just assume for now that the test went very smoothly.
A few days after the results were announced, Wei Xi and Mei Ruochu returned as they were.
As soon as they met, Wei Xi got off the carriage and said with a gloomy face: "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Principal. I only got second place in the provincial examination."
"Second place is also a very good result, just do your best!" Shen Cui hurriedly comforted him and checked his mood value. She wondered in her heart that she had been observing that Wei Xi was always in a good mood, and the data in front of her was still the same.
"Don't be sad, Junior Brother, second place is really amazing!"
"Yeah, I was only ranked twelfth last year. If you are not satisfied with your second place, how can I, as your brother, still be alive?"
Everyone tried to comfort him, but Wei Xi couldn't hold back any longer and said with a smile, "Alright, alright, I won't pretend anymore. Brother Mei is the first in the case! I just lost to him. Why should I be upset?"
No one doubted Mei Ruochu's talent, even Lao Buyu said that he could not teach him.
He has yet to get a good grade in an exam. Although no one says it on the surface, everyone feels sorry for him in their hearts.
Now that they heard that the first place in the government case fell on him, they were all sincerely happy for him!
Mei Ruochu was about to get off the carriage at this time, but everyone surrounded Wei Xi who got off the carriage first, and he had no place to stay.
Seeing this, Mu Erpang immediately stretched out his fat arm exaggeratedly, "Hey, Mr. Chief, please slow down, I will help you!"
His exaggerated behavior made Wei Shu laugh so hard that his stomach hurt. While laughing, he hooked his hand around Wei Xi's neck and tightened it, "You little brat, you're still trying to keep us in suspense and make jokes, right?"
Wei Xi quickly begged for mercy, "It was Brother Mei. He apologized to me after seeing the results, saying that he didn't know I would perform so well this time, and if he had known, he wouldn't have finished the exam at the same time as me. I said I wasn't unhappy, and not only me, but everyone else would definitely not be unhappy either."
Lao Buyu's face flushed with excitement, his lips trembling as he said, "The first and second in the case... this, this, this..."
These are the test scores of students who graduated from their academy? It's much better than his scores which he managed to pass every time back then!
He was at a loss for words. If he hadn't shown off in front of Ling Qingming before, he would have ended up in such a bad situation. Now he would have wished he could grow wings and fly to Ling Qingming to tell him the good news!
They were laughing and joking, and Shen Cui laughed along with them, her heart softening.
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