Chapter 64 Literati are such a drag

Not long after the two of them were called away, they returned with beaming, joyful expressions.

The others all looked at them with unconcealed envy.

Lowering his voice with palpable excitement, Zhu An said, "I just saw the Literary Commissioner, and he even asked me a question! The arithmetic problem we encountered during the exam was set by the Commissioner himself. Although it was somewhat difficult, I managed to solve it after working through it."

Zhu An shook his head in self-satisfaction, a hint of pride written all over his face. He quickly turned to ask, "Did you manage to solve it?"

Wang Xuezhou smiled and replied, "Of course. Before the exam, our teacher gave us a special review session on arithmetic and laws."

Zhu An was surprised. "I didn't expect the teacher to know about this as well. Excellent. Indeed, we are likely to encounter these two subjects in the future. Keeping up with our reading can never be wrong."

As the two were talking, all ten candidates had gathered.

The yamen runners took headcount, opened the grand gates of the Examination Hall, and began releasing the first batch of candidates.

People outside surged forward like a swarm of bees the moment the gates cracked open.

Fatou, being short and slender, darted through the crowd of adults like a slippery loach, quickly pushing his way to the very front. Upon spotting Wang Xuezhou, he excitedly raised his arm and shouted, "Chundan! I'm over here!"

That shout of "Chundan" was crystal clear. Some of the surrounding scholars who had exited together couldn't help but chuckle. Wang Xuezhou turned his head for a quick glance and saw that the one laughing was none other than the scholar who had accompanied Zhu An to the Mingyuan Tower earlier.

Noticing Wang Xuezhou's gaze, the scholar put on an innocent expression, though the corners of his mouth refused to stay down.

Wang Xuezhou gave a faint glance and looked away, waving at Fatou to let him know he had seen him.

Zhu An was hauled outward by his servant, leaving behind a hurried, "Let's talk after the exams," before awkwardly squeezing his way through the crowd.

A group of people gathered around them, firing off questions about the situation inside. Meanwhile, Fatou grabbed Wang Xuezhou and dragged him out of the throng.

Wang Chengzhi, Father Zhao, and Father Qi were waiting anxiously. Spotting him, they immediately crowded around. "How did it go?"

Wang Xuezhou caught his breath. "Zhao Xing and Qi Xian haven't come out yet; they are still answering the questions."

Father Zhao and Father Qi nodded in disappointment and continued peering toward the entrance.

"Chundan, how are you holding up? Are you tired? Are you thirsty?"

Wang Chengzhi held a steamed bun in one hand and a water skin in the other, thrusting them forward.

Wang Xuezhou took the water skin and gulped down several mouthfuls.

"Drink slowly, drink slowly! Did they not even provide water in there? Are they trying to dehydrate people to death?" Wang Chengzhi couldn't help feeling a pang of heartache at the sight, cursing under his breath.

Wang Xuezhou wiped his mouth. "It's not that. I just didn't dare to drink any water during the exam for fear of having to run to the latrine."

Not only did someone follow you to the restroom, but the conditions in there were also simply... Well, the exam only lasted a single day, so it was better to just endure it, finish writing, and get out quickly.

Among the second batch of released candidates were Cao Zewen and another scholar named Xu Shan.

Cao Zewen hadn't expected that this kid, with whom he had previously fought, would manage to get ahead of him again.

Xu Shan, on the other hand, was quite courteous. He came over to exchange greetings before dragging Cao Zewen back to the inn ahead of them.

When more than half of the candidates had streamed out of the Examination Hall, a sudden commotion and wave of exclamations broke out at the entrance.

Noticing the unusual disturbance over there, the group turned to look together.

They saw that the dense crowd pressed near the front seemed to be parted by some unstoppable force, involuntarily retreating to both sides and revealing the person within.

It was Bai Yan, charging through the crowd like a human wall, with a person tucked under each of his arms, thudding heavily toward them and knocking down several people along the way.

Pinching their noses, Zhao Xing and Qi Xian resignedly let themselves be clamped under his arms as he barrelled forward. Next to Bai Yan's bulky frame, the two of them looked like fragile little chicks.

As Bai Yan closed in, the pungent body odor radiating from him grew increasingly overpowering.

"Wait! Don't come over here!" Wang Xuezhou shouted, raising a hand to halt him while stepping backward.

Bai Yan stopped about three paces away from them, set Zhao Xing and Qi Xian down, and scratched his head with an embarrassed expression. "I..."

The moment he opened his mouth, he clamped it shut again, wearing a look of sheer nausea.

"I'll have my dad come find you later; I need to go back and clean up first!" Forcing back the upheaval in his stomach, Bai Yan dropped those words and bolted.

Both Zhao Xing and Qi Xian heaved collective sighs of relief.

On the way back to the inn, Zhao Xing and Qi Xian carried a faint sense of excitement. The smile on Zhao Xing's face refused to fade. "I heard so many people around me complaining about today's arithmetic problems. They probably didn't know how to solve them. The three of us definitely had no problem. I feel like this is my chance."

Before the results were out, Qi Xian didn't dare boast, but he smiled with tightly pressed lips. "We owe it all to the teacher for being so well-informed. Otherwise, we probably would have ended up just like the rest of them."

All three nodded in agreement.

Hearing their words, Father Zhao and Father Qi beamed with delight.

This trip was money well spent!

Not long after returning to the inn, the waiter came upstairs to knock on their door, announcing that someone downstairs was looking for them.

The three of them went downstairs, turned the corner, and spotted the highly conspicuous, brilliantly shining bald head of Wealthy Master Bai in the main hall.

Even in such cool weather, a servant standing beside him was holding a fan and continuously fanning him.

He was chatting merrily with the trio's fathers, his eyes squinted into slits.

Seeing them descend, Wang Chengzhi beckoned to Wang Xuezhou and said, "Chundan, Elder Brother Wang suggested that we move over to the small courtyard you stayed in last time. What do you think?"

Upon seeing him, Wealthy Master Bai's eyes lit up. "Oh my! It's only been a few months, and the young master has grown even more handsome!"

Wang Xuezhou hurriedly bowed. "Uncle Bai."

"Oh dear! You've already called me uncle, why so polite? Didn't I send a letter to Teacher Zhou long ago telling you all to come straight to my house for accommodations during the exams? I had my servants keep watch at the city gates for days, but didn't catch sight of you at all! If Yan'er hadn't mentioned running into you at the examination, I would have thought something unfortunate happened and you didn't make it to the test."

Wealthy Master Bai used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow, looking at them with a hint of reproach.

Wang Xuezhou, Zhao Xing, and Qi Xian exchanged glances of genuine surprise.

Their teacher hadn't mentioned that at all!

Looking apologetic, Wang Xuezhou said, "Perhaps there were too many people at the city gates and we simply missed each other? We originally planned to seek shelter and trouble you if we couldn't find a place to stay..."

"You scholars are always so overly formal! My family is wealthy, are we afraid you'll eat us out of house and home? I could host many more guests besides! Since we've run into each other now, go pack your things and come stay with my Yan'er. Why spend money here for nothing? It would just be wasted! Come on, let's go!"

Wealthy Master Bai waved a hand, speaking with grand magnanimity.

He was joking! It had cost his son a great deal of effort to find a few companions who happened to excel academically. Hanging out with them could only bring benefits, never harm.

In the future, these individuals would all become valuable connections; how could he let that tie snap easily?

Furthermore, young Wang was the top scorer of the county exam; the luck rubbing off on him couldn't possibly be bad. He had to let his son catch some of that fortune, just in case he passed this time as well...

Wealthy Master Bai had always been superstitious. At this thought, his gaze toward Wang Xuezhou grew even more fervent.

Father Zhao and Father Qi were somewhat tempted—staying there would save a considerable amount of money...

Yet, worried that their sons might be looked down upon and mindful of their pride, they politely declined, "No, no need..."

Wealthy Master Bai put on a stern face. "Are my two elder brothers looking down on me, Bai Boren?"

"No, no, we didn't mean that at all..."

"Then it's settled! My Yan'er is still waiting for the young masters to come over and seek academic guidance. With three gifted young masters imparting knowledge, his chances will surely be much greater."

With this masterstroke of manipulation, Wealthy Master Bai effortlessly won over the three fathers.

After seeking his approval, the three youths went to invite Master Lin to join them.

Master Lin flatly refused.

He had always looked down on parvenus and landlords and had no desire to associate with such people.

Unfazed by the rejection, Wealthy Master Bai led the youths onto his carriage and drove off proudly.