Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 377 Passing the Imperial Examination (Part 1)

Time flies like an arrow; the sun and moon shine like fleeting light.

Time quickly came to the most important day.

Although Aunt Wei had not yet arrived in Bianjing, the day for posting the notice had already come.

……

Shengfu.

Apart from Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai, who had to go to the yamen as usual and could not stay at home, the rest of the Sheng family tried their best to stay at home and wait for news from Sheng Changquan.

However, Sheng Changfeng couldn't stay at home and ran out early in the morning, saying he was going to find out information for his seventh younger brother. No one said anything about this.

Of course, whether it was just gathering information or just incidentally gathering information is another matter.

Apart from him, everyone else stayed "obediently" in the mansion, anxiously and "quietly" waiting for news from the front.

However, some people were genuinely worried about Sheng Changquan, while others secretly cursed him, hoping for bad news, preferably that Sheng Changquan would fail the exam and be unable to even find his name.

Sheng Changquan himself, however, appeared quite "calm," simply going out with a group of friends to a tavern near the notice board to wait for news.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Xu Changqing had not appeared since yesterday...

……

Outside Donghua Street.

Inside a rather elegant tavern, the atmosphere was bustling with activity and lively conversation.

Normally, only half the seats are occupied, but today it's packed, with every table full of people.

Some students from impoverished families, who didn't even have seats, stood not far from the door, constantly craning their necks to look out.

It's obvious they're waiting for the results to be released.

However, these students from impoverished backgrounds didn't just stand there idly. The tavern staff had prepared benches, tea, and even some free drinks for them.

These drinks, while not particularly expensive, are genuine and are the kind that ordinary people often see but are reluctant to buy.

Of course, this was a special instruction from the tavern owners. After all, no one knows whether a golden phoenix can fly out of this chicken coop. If a student passes the exam, the tavern will naturally have made a good connection.

It has to be said, this businessman is really shrewd.

However, among this group of students, there were occasionally some lazybones who were greedy. They wore ill-fitting Confucian robes and pretended to look around, ostensibly waiting for the results, but in reality just to freeload.

However, today was an unusual day, so the shopkeepers didn't bother with them. As long as they didn't cause any trouble with the real students, they let them take advantage of the situation.

Unlike these people, Sheng Changquan and his group had reserved their seats well in advance.

At this moment, Sheng Changquan was sitting in a seat by the window, holding a cup of sake in his hand, leisurely looking at the crowd outside the window, with a carefree and indifferent expression.

Around him sat the four good brothers who had visited the Sheng family last time—Niu Xingwen, Liu Renyuan, Lian Zhuo, and Shen Li.

"Changquan, are you really that indifferent?"

Of the group, Liu Renyuan was the most impatient.

At this moment, he was the first to speak: "Even if you pass this time, aren't you worried that someone will steal your...top scholar title?"

As he finished speaking, Liu Renyuan couldn't help but look around, and his voice unconsciously became softer.

After all, we're out in public, so there are some things we can't say carelessly. If someone overhears us, things could get messy.

Moreover, from beginning to end, Sheng Changquan never made any boastful claims that he would definitely be the top scholar in the imperial examination. The claim that he was the top scholar was actually just something that Liu Renyuan and the others said in jest.

Of course, it wasn't entirely a joke; Liu Renyuan and the others were quite confident that Sheng Changquan could become the top scholar in the provincial examination.

After all, they all had great faith in his writing skills, and they wouldn't accept it if he failed. "Yes, Changquan, aren't you really worried?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Li and the others couldn't help but speak up, and at the same time, they all turned their attention to him.

Because they were outside, the formality in their conversations was absent from last time, and they were more casual and friendly with each other.

To be honest, although they were born in the same year, only Liu Renyuan and Sheng Changquan actually participated in the provincial and municipal examinations. The other three returned to their ancestral homes to take the exams.

As for why these three didn't wait for the local results to be released, it's because they all knew exactly what was going on.

Apart from Shen Li, the other two understood that their chances of passing the exam this time were slim, and their return to their hometowns to take the exam was merely a preparation for trying again next year.

In any case, they need to familiarize themselves with the process in preparation for the future.

As for Shen Li, it's something that can only be understood intuitively, not explained in words.

Although Niu Xingwen and the others felt a little sad, they couldn't be too harsh on them. After all, they came from different backgrounds, and some things were to be expected. They had long been used to such things. It was just that they were the ones who were envied in the past.

Shen Li himself was aware of this, but for his own sake and for the sake of his family, he had no choice but to agree. However, feeling ashamed, he was unwilling to wait in his hometown and simply returned to the capital.

"Hehe, I had no other choice, did I?"

"By now, the list must have been released by now. What difference does it make whether I'm in a hurry or not?"

Sensing the strange atmosphere among them, Sheng Changquan decided to crack a joke: "And also!"

He glanced at the students outside, then deliberately shook his head and sighed, "Alas!"

"Moreover, if we were to act like them, it would seem rather guilty."

"Wouldn't that be a disgrace to my great title of 'Master Calligrapher of a Generation'?"

Sheng Changquan jokingly mentioned his nickname, looking quite proud.

Because of his unique style of calligraphy, Sheng Changquan had a great reputation in the calligraphy world. In addition, someone secretly hired online trolls, so he was already considered a minor master of calligraphy.

"puff……"

"A master calligrapher?"

"Hahaha……"

The group was taken aback at first, then they all smiled, and the atmosphere immediately eased considerably. Even Shen Li's expression relaxed slightly.

They all naturally understood the humor in Sheng Changquan's words.

"Master Sheng, you truly see things clearly!"

Liu Renyuan smiled and sincerely praised, "It seems that not only are we inferior to you in writing and calligraphy, but you are also far superior to us in these matters of interpersonal relationships!"

"Yes! He is a grandmaster after all!"

"..."

The others joined in the teasing, making jokes about Sheng Changquan.

"hey-hey!"

Sheng Changquan didn't seem to care about this at all. Instead, he puffed out his chest with a smug look on his face, as if he really hadn't taken the results to heart.

However, no one knew that Sheng Changquan had almost worn his shoes out by now.

"Why...why isn't Xu Changqing back yet?!"

(End of this chapter)