Chapter 215: Embarrassment

Chapter 215: Embarrassment

Shen Lieyue's prediction was correct. The Lu family was indeed going to fetch their eldest branch, as they had sent them deep into the wilderness. It would take two months for a round trip, and even with the help of the Lu family members, it would be too late for farming if they didn't return soon.

As Xu family's father and son finished their conversation, Lu ErLang approached Shen Lieyue and Chen Dashan, asking for some arrow poison in case of emergencies.

Lu ErLang and Lu SanLang had been training intensively over the past few years, especially Lu SanLang, who had made tremendous progress. Both brothers were familiar with the various signs in the forest and wild animals. With their knowledge, caution against predators, and the arrow poison, they should be able to bring back the eldest branch without any issues.

On the first day of winter, the Lu brothers left the village to enter the mountains. Wei Qinghe also notified all the families and gathered those interested in trying out for the state academy examination at Xu's house.

All the children who had been studying were excused from farm work that day. Each carried their stone slates, brushes, and bowls for water to Xu's residence, where Master Xu had already borrowed tables and stools for the occasion.

Parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents accompanied their children, unwilling to leave and neglecting their chores. They watched from the side.

Without paper or ink, most of the questions were recited by Wei Qinghe, who then wrote down the answers with a brush dipped in water on the stone slates.

The water stains on the slates dried quickly, so Wei Qinghe, Wang Yunzheng, and Sang Luo checked the answers simultaneously. The rules were established beforehand: anyone who answered fifteen out of thirty questions correctly could try their hand at writing on actual paper with real ink, as Ah Wu put it, to experience the atmosphere.

After more than an hour of testing, it was no surprise that Wei Qinghe and Wang Yunzheng, capable of being half-teachers, performed exceptionally well. Among the examinees, Shen An and Xu Wenbo were the top performers, followed by Shen Lie and Xu Wenhong. Ten-year-old Zhou Changhe and Ah Wu came next, while Xu Wenqing barely passed with fifteen to seventeen correct answers out of thirty.

As for the three Shi brothers, Sanlang and Sirlang, along with Chen Ershan, only half of them could provide answers.

Amid the crowd of onlookers, Aunt Chen and the other parents from Village Chief Zhou's group displayed a mix of joy, sighs, and, naturally, words of encouragement for their children to strive harder.

Qiaoer had been standing behind her elder brothers' desks, quietly watching them answer the questions for quite some time. If not for the fear of distracting them, she would have been hopping with impatience.

Now that the results were out, the young girl joined the group of girls and whispered to Xu Wenying, Shen Ning, and Chen Xiaoya, "Why can't girls take the test? I think I answered better than my brother."

Chen Xiaoya also stood behind Chen Ershan, staring for a long time with a worried frown. "Isn't that so? I've calculated, I can answer eighteen of them."

With daily exposure to Sang Luo's tutelage, and influenced by her two diligent elder brothers back home, Shen Ning calculated, "I reckon I should be able to answer twenty-one questions correctly."

Xu Wenying looked at Shen Ning, "Coincidentally, I also answered question twenty-one."

It turned out that they had all silently answered the questions in their hearts.

Xu Wenyin pouted. "I've never heard of a woman serving as an official or attending school. The Wang family's legitimate wives do have female tutors, but what they learn is quite different from what we study. My mother learned some of it when she was young; she taught me, but I never took much interest in it."

Shopkeeper Xu chuckled and said, "Alright, the results are out. Previously, our family and the Shen family pooled together some paper and ink. A few days ago, when Uncle Yunzheng heard that quite a number of people from our village were planning to take the exam, he sent over a chest of brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. Those of you who have been diligently studying these past few years can come forward and collect your share. Those who are taking the exam should head to the prefecture office to register first. Afterward, come back here to learn how to use the ink and inkstone. For the next few days, practice at home."

As he finished his sentence, Uncle Xu had already fetched a box that was originally placed in the corner of the hall with Xu Wenqing. They placed it in the center and opened it.

Upon hearing that the Wang family had sent brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, everyone was quite surprised. Many had never seen such items up close and gathered around to take a look. The items were neatly arranged in their respective categories.

Old Lady Chen gave it a glance and touched the inkstone. "How intricate! Is this for grinding ink? It doesn't seem to resemble the one at your home."

She was asking the wife of Village Chief Zhou, as Old Lady Chen had only seen inkstones at the Zhou family's, including the previous village chief.

The Zhou couple leaned in for a closer look and shook their heads together. "Ours isn't as good. This is much more expensive."

They used the cheapest inkstone available.

San Luo also took a look and couldn't help but admire Lord Wang's thoughtfulness. No wonder he could run his business so successfully.

If the Wang family hadn't sent these items today, the families who were certain about taking the exam would have gone into town to buy brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone in the afternoon. While he and the Xu family could provide paper and ink, where would they find an inkstone? It wouldn't be possible to bring a bowl or plate into the examination hall to hold the ground ink.

This gift was too well-timed and appropriate. Who wouldn't be grateful?

However, upon recalling Wang Yunzheng, she couldn't help but glance at the young man. She still remembered the scene when Shopkeeper Xu brought news of her maternal grandparents' passing back then.

At fourteen, he had become even more composed. On this return, he could calmly converse with Elder Wang, and after just one visit to the Wang residence, he decided to stay in the village with Wei Qinghe. Somehow, the Wang family did not interfere with their arrangement.

Old Chen didn't think too much about it. The paper he had used in his life was merely the window paper at home. Now, when he looked at the paper the Wang family had sent, he dared not touch it with his rough, calloused hands that were covered in tiny cracks.

"How much did this cost? Elder Wang is being too extravagant. We're not that close, how can I accept this?"

Xu Boss gave Wang Yunzheng a glance. He knew his employer well and understood that Wang was trying to mend the rift between their families. Since the gift was for Yunzheng himself, who willingly accepted it, Xu Boss wasn't put on the spot. He smiled and said, "Why aren't we close? Everyone has taken care of Yunzheng over the years. Come, let's divide them up."

Wang Yunzheng nodded with a smile and joined in to sort the items.

Farmers were thrifty, and they all knew how valuable these goods were. Shi Dalang instinctively said, "Is this for the exam? Use as much as you can these few days so that you'll be familiar with it during the test."

Wang Yunzheng shook his head and replied, "Uncle Shi, there's enough. After studying for so many years, it's good to have a real feel of these things. Even if they're not needed now, they will come in handy in the future."

Together with Xu Wenqing and his brothers, he sorted the items out and distributed them to his classmates from the past few years.

Wang Yunzheng first gave Shen Lie a double portion. "Master, this is for you and my shifuren."

Shen Lie observed his expression and, seeing no sign of sadness, took the gifts with a smile. "Thank you."

A hint of amusement gleamed in Wang Yunzheng's eyes. He turned back and fetched two more sets, one for Shen An and another for Shen Ning, who was sitting not far from Shen An.

Shen Ning was taken aback. "One for me too?"

Wang Yunzheng's lips curved up. "Didn't you study with them?"

Shen Ning's eyes instantly widened as she leaned forward to examine the calligraphy tools on the table. She asked Wang Yunzheng, "Is there really enough? Didn't your uncle prepare these? Do girls get a share too?"

"Yes," Wang Yunzheng replied. The materials were indeed prepared by his uncle, but there were actually two large boxes, each containing his own portion. Since he had sorted through one of them, he could decide how many sets he wanted to distribute.

Shen Ning happily accepted the gift with a smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Wang Yunzheng said with a grin, turning to fetch another set. This time, he handed it to Chen Ershan, who was seated beside him.

"Mine?" Xu Wenying approached a few steps away and then waved at Chen Xiaoya and Shi Qiaoer. "Xiaoya, Qiaoer, come here quickly."

If An had one, they surely would have theirs too. Without thinking twice, Xu Wenying called out to them.

Wang Yunzheng chuckled and directly gave her three sets. "All of you have a share. You can help distribute them."

earlier complaints about girls not being allowed to take the exam, Shi Qiaoer and Chen Xiaoya were ecstatic. "You're really giving it to me?"

Grinning from ear to ear, Shi Qiaoer eagerly received one from Xu Wenying, cradling it in one hand while feeling the texture of the paper with the other. Fascinated, she leaned over to inspect Shen Ning's as the four young girls soon huddled together.

Seeing that Wang Yunzheng seemed to have genuinely found a balance with the Wang family, Sang Luo felt relieved. She took a sheet from Shen Lie's hand and examined it closely.

Tsk, even back then, there were skilled techniques. Feeling the quality of the paper in her hands, Sang Luo thought about the items she had soaked in the mountain stream. Connecting the dots on some crucial information, she had racked her brains for over a month before finally devising a method. All that was left was to find the time to give it a try.

She had no grand aspirations; if she could merely shape it into paper, even if it were crude, it would be a triumph.

Once more, she sighed at the depth of the wealthy families' foundations. How many trials had they weathered? Surely, their wealth surpassed that of the current state office.

...

In the largest public chamber of the state office, a young man with an air of vigor had just set down his brush. As he waited for the ink to dry, he began rolling up the document. Upon noticing the character "Da Qian" written on the reverse side, his movement paused, and his expression darkened further.

"Has the Zheng family still refused to take up the position of the state scholar?"

The middle-aged scholar, the Xizhou Prefectural Historiographer, smiled wryly and shook his head. "We've visited them three times, yet they still claim to be unwell."

"This shows that they still underestimate our great Qi," the youth said with a hint of sarcasm. "Let him be ill then. Who says that a state academy scholar has to be from an esteemed family? Go seek out Elder Lin from the Lin family."

The middle-aged scholar laughed upon hearing this. "Excellent. I'll pay the Lin family a visit this afternoon."

Seeing the young man continue to roll up the document, he couldn't help but advise, "Your Excellency, this is for the Emperor's perusal. You should change the paper. In a few days, the state academy will hold its entrance exam. When the head of the Wang family brought his children to register today, he presented over fifty boxes of paper, saying that most of their family's collection had been found."

The young man was none other than the current Shexiu Prefecture Governor. Upon hearing the chancellor's words, his actions paused slightly before resuming. "This is the situation in all the provinces now, and the Emperor is aware of it. As for that paper, have thirty boxes delivered along with the letter to His Majesty."

They had inherited a mess when they took over, so what did he, a provincial governor, have to lose by being embarrassed?

He summoned a messenger, entrusted the task, and then asked the chancellor, "How many people have applied for the state academy so far?"

The chancellor sighed. "I came here precisely to discuss this matter. We might not be able to recruit the full quota of forty students this year. Since the announcement was posted, only twenty-seven have registered."

"Twenty-seven?" The young man knitted his brows. "Where's the list?"

The Shexiu Prefecture chancellor handed over a pre-prepared list. The youth unfolded it and scanned it swiftly. The backgrounds of each applicant were listed behind their names.

The Wang family, the Lin family, and the rest were from smaller wealthy households.

The young man couldn't help but sneer as he flipped the list over and slammed it onto the table. "Oh, the Zheng family. With over a hundred young members, not a single one is devoted to scholarly pursuits?"

"Go, further instruct that the proclamation be intensified. Let it reach every city gate and both markets, each and every neighborhood. Great Qi seeks scholars, where the pursuit of knowledge bears no prejudice against age. Even those in their forties or fifties, should they wish, are welcome to come."

The magisterial chronicler himself was from a prominent family of the previous dynasty. He had never seen such a provincial academy before and was momentarily at a loss for words. Just as he was about to speak, a subordinate official entered with a hint of excitement on his face. "Your Excellency, someone has come to register for the provincial academy! Nine people in total!"

The two highest-ranking officials in Xizhou turned to look instantly. "How much?"

"Nine of them!"

No sooner had the words left his lips than the two officials rushed out like gusts of wind. The secretary, being a scholar, only realized what was happening as he stepped out of the official hall. He hurriedly caught up to the military governor, who had a martial background, and pleaded, "Your Excellency, please don't go out! Just take a look from the window, that should be enough."