Chapter 43: The List is Posted, Looking for Trouble

He expertly packed his belongings, then sat and waited for the paper to be distributed and the examination questions to be announced.

There were noticeably fewer people for this session, but he soon had no time to spare for other thoughts.

One passage from the Classics with commentary, one philosophical essay based on the Classics, and the transcription of over a hundred characters from the *Sacred Edict Broadened Instructions*.

The questions this time were clearly fewer than before.

He stared at the prompt for the Classics passage question, falling deep into thought: "Benevolence rejoices in joy, joy in joy."

...Are they kidding me?!

What kind of lousy prompt is this? There were only four characters as a hint!

He sat there with his temples throbbing, pondering for a long while, until he finally found the answer in a chapter of the *Mencius*.

"Mencius said: The substance of benevolence is serving one's parents... The substance of joy is taking joy in these two things; once enjoyed, life arises..."

Having finished transcribing the text, he finally let out a long breath and looked at the next question.

The philosophical essay question: "The benevolence of Yao and Shun did not universally love all people; they made it urgent to honor the worthy."

This question was not particularly difficult, and he finished writing it quickly.

The remaining memorization and transcription took even less time, and shortly after midday, he walked out of the examination hall.

Waiting outside this time were Wang Chengzhi and Wang Xuewen.

After the three met, there was no unnecessary chatter, and Wang Chengzhi led him back to the inn.

"The folks at home must be getting worried sick. We should head back first and come back to check the results the day after tomorrow, what do you think?"

Above all, staying at the inn was simply too expensive!

With three more examination sessions to go, Wang Chengzhi really found it difficult to bear the cost.

"Then let's head back!"

The three briefly packed their belongings, and Wang Xuewen walked back to Xilang Village with his head drooping in dejection.

Just as they entered the village, they saw a few children playing at the village entrance who began shouting and running toward the village: "Niudan and Choudan are back!!!"

Before Wang Xuewen had even stepped across his threshold, he saw Old Man Wang and Old Mrs. Liu rushing out with the rest of the family. It was the first time he had ever seen such a grand spectacle, and he was momentarily stunned.

"Second Brother! You're back? How did the exam go? Are you tired?"

Old Man Wang asked a couple of brief questions, cutting straight to the matter he cared about most.

The corners of Wang Chengzhi's mouth nearly split all the way to his ears: "The exam is done, Choudan made it to the second session! He just finished!"

Old Mrs. Liu was ecstatic: "Really? Let's go, let's go, hurry home!"

As soon as they stepped inside, everyone in the household, young and old alike, crowded around. One asked a couple of questions, another expressed their concern. After dealing with all of them, Wang Xuewen let out a long sigh and finally retreated to his own room.

The interior of the room had taken on a completely new look.

The inner room where he slept had been rearranged at some point; the original bed had been replaced by two single beds, and against the wall stood a newly crafted desk paired with a new chair, the height just right.

"Your grandfather made the desk and chair for you. I noticed before that you weren't comfortable sitting at your old table."

Mrs. Zhang came in, saw his expression, and explained with a smile.

"I like it very much."

He looked at the brand-new desk and chair, sat down, and a smile appeared on his face.

Mrs. Zhang looked at him with a face full of joy.

After resting for a day, they went to check the notice board as usual.

This session had weeded out another batch of candidates, and seat number Four in the Yellow character category was still right in the middle.

By the time the third, fourth, and fifth sessions arrived, only a few dozen people remained.

Finally, the day for the county examination results to be posted arrived. Wang Chengzhi had long since staked out a spot at the very front of the announcement wall.

Having gone through this several times already, he had long memorized his son's seat number and waited to catch the very first glimpse of the results.

Soon, the officials posting the notices arrived, and the crowd surged forward in a chaotic rush.

The few students from the Shangshan Academy stood on the outskirts of the crowd, hesitating to push forward amid the crush of people.

"We don't need to go over there. I've already had my family's servant go check for your names."

The posting of results for the final session was arranged horizontally in order of names, known as the "Long List," and the top candidate was designated as the county's *Anshou* (top scorer).

"First place, Wang Xuewen!"

"Which brother is that? Let us all feast our eyes!"

Wang Chengzhi had managed with great difficulty to memorize his son's seat number, but none of them matched, and just as he was sinking into disappointment, he heard his son's name.

"What? First place?!"

Wang Chengzhi raised his voice in disbelief, and the people around him immediately turned to look.

Seeing that he wore patched clothing and that his appearance and demeanor bore no resemblance to a scholar, they immediately looked at him suspiciously: "The first place winner is named Wang Xuewen, brother, you wouldn't happen to be claiming that's you, would you?"

"Hahaha!!! First place! My son is in first place!!! Hahahahaha!!!!"

Wang Chengzhi couldn't hear a word anyone else was saying, dancing around in wild excitement.

"What? It's your son? Where is he?" The person next to him also grabbed him excitedly and refused to let go. Wang Chengzhi snapped back to reality, shook off the other person's grip, and began squeezing his way out of the crowd.

"Brother, don't be in such a hurry. First tell us where your son is! Let us properly witness the demeanor of our county's top scorer..."

Wang Chengzhi was being pulled by others and couldn't break free, until finally, Lu Dasheng's servant heard the commotion, grabbed him by both arms, and hauled him out.

"Choudan! My son! Father's good son!"

The moment Wang Chengzhi saw Wang Xuewen, he threw aside all decorum in his excitement, pulled him into his arms, and patted his back vigorously.

"Cough, cough... Father... let me go..."

Wang Xuewen was being squeezed so tightly he could barely breathe.

"Uncle Wang, you mustn't!" Zheng Qiyuan and the others hurriedly intervened, and Wang Chengzhi finally calmed down a bit.

"Choudan, you passed! First place!"

Though Wang Chengzhi lowered his voice, his excited tone still made his voice much louder than usual.

Wang Xuewen was stunned.

Although he had believed he would pass, he never expected to be the number one *Anshou*!

"What?! First place!" Hearing this, Lu Dasheng shrieked in wild excitement.

Zheng Qiyuan swiftly clamped a hand over Lu Dasheng's mouth and turned to the two servants: "Did anyone else among us pass?"

"Master Qi is fifteenth, Master Zhao is thirty-sixth, Master Zheng is eighty-fourth, and Master Xia is ninety-ninth."

Upon hearing this, Lu Dasheng felt as though his heart had turned to ash, and he stared at the servant in disbelief: "All of them passed?!"

Except for him, every single one of them had passed!

The servant spoke with utmost caution: "Yes, all of them passed..."

"Ahhhhhhh!!!! It's all because of that cursed seat number!!!! Sob, sob~~~~"

Lu Dasheng could no longer hold it together; he threw two punches into the empty air out of sheer frustration, yet still felt unappeased.

"Cough, cough, shouldn't we go and share the news with Master Zhou?"

While the others were celebrating and found it difficult to empathize with Lu Dasheng's grief, Wang Xuewen's suggestion was immediately met with enthusiastic agreement.

Wang Chengzhi was still anxious to rush home and spread the news, so he exchanged a few words with Wang Xuewen and departed.

The group walked together toward the academy. Before they even reached the entrance, they heard someone shouting loudly inside.

"What kind of pathetic scholar is he, what right does he have to teach here? He couldn't even muster a full group of candidates for the exam, what's the point of taking it anyway?! Do you have any idea that you are occupying slots belonging to others?!"

The expressions of the young men shifted, and they quickly quickened their pace toward the academy.

From a good distance away, they saw the student who had always hurled malicious remarks at them standing in front of the academy gates with bloodshot eyes, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"An instructor like you, what right do you have to teach students? I suppose your reputation was ruined back in your hometown, which is why you left your roots behind and came here to swindle people!"