Top Scholar

Chapter 199 The Iron Tree Blossoms!
After the Qingming Festival, the Su brothers returned to their daily routines.

Xiao Tiantian also visited Huang Bingxian's residence every other day to learn reading and writing from Huang E. She also 'incidentally' became a messenger between Su Lu and Huang E.

Most of the time, Xiaotiantian was passing around books. Strangely enough, Huang E borrowed all four volumes of "Chronicles of Huayang" at once. But she borrowed the seven volumes of "Records of Learning in Difficulty" printed in Baoding Prefecture one by one, without finding it troublesome.

Moreover, Huang E always sealed the books she borrowed with a book bag, saying she was afraid the rain would damage the precious books. Su Youcai, who picked up and dropped off Xiaotiantian every time, praised her, saying that this Miss Huang truly cherished books!

As for what was inside the satchel, only Su Lu knew...

~~
March 16th arrived in the blink of an eye, and the results of the second monthly class were announced.

This time, Zheng Yizhai's progress was even more obvious. Not only did Deng Dengying and Lei Shengyuan continue to steadily improve their rankings, but four more classmates also entered the top thirty.

With Su Lu and Zhu Zihe continuing to hold the top spot, there are now eight Zhengyi Zhai students in the top thirty...

The students of Zhengyizhai were naturally overjoyed, jumping and skipping in front of the notice board, and even wanting to throw their godfather into the air to release their excitement.

Li Zongsheng had already fallen to outside the top forty, which was already distressing enough, and seeing their commotion only made him more annoyed. He couldn't help but retort sarcastically:

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you passed the imperial examination! Shouldn't we set off firecrackers for you and celebrate with gongs and drums?"

Before he finished speaking, the sound of gongs and drums rang out from the foot of Bijia Mountain!
Before long, the crackling sound of firecrackers turned into a chaotic mess...

"Hahaha!" The students of Zhengyizhai burst into laughter: "Young Master Li's mouth is blessed!"

"Hmph!" Li Zongsheng snorted, not caring about getting back at them, and first made a wish amidst the sound of firecrackers: "I can get back into the top thirty next month!"

They're not greedy at all...

~~
At first, the classmates thought it was a wedding in the neighborhood, but the sound of firecrackers and drums went on for a long time, and cheers rang out throughout the city.

The students were buzzing with excitement, wondering what good news had happened. Then, Headmaster Zhou strode out, his face beaming with joy, and called out to them loudly, "What are you all standing there for? Didn't you hear the messenger has arrived to report the victory?!"

"Headmaster, what victory is there to report?" The students still didn't understand.

"Sigh, these kids," Zhou Shanzhang sighed, "They don't even know that today is the day to announce the results of the imperial examination!"

“It’s no wonder they’re like this,” Mr. Ji said, following behind Headmaster Zhou. “After all, they were just born when Luzhou produced its last batch of successful candidates in the imperial examinations!”

"Yes, it's been too long." Headmaster Zhou nodded and sighed, "After Senior Lei passed the imperial examination in the sixth year of the Hongzhi reign, our prestigious Luzhou did not produce a single Jinshi for a full twelve years."

"Fortunately, this chapter of history has finally come to an end today!" Mr. Ji and the others beamed with pride, saying, "Our Heshan Academy has produced its twenty-fourth Jinshi of this dynasty!"

Whether it's the Li family, the Lei family, the Bai family, or the Zhu family, the people who passed the imperial examinations definitely came from Bijia Mountain!
Headmaster Zhou immediately announced a one-day suspension of classes to celebrate!

He then called out loudly to the students, "Quickly follow me down the mountain to congratulate your senior!"

"Yes, sir!" everyone responded in unison, and then all the teachers and students went down the mountain together to join the congratulatory crowd!

The South Gate Street was bustling with activity. Nine-ring firecrackers exploded, releasing silver and red smoke; firecrackers crackled incessantly like boiling water; and streaks of fireworks shot into the sky, trailing golden tails. In broad daylight, all one could do was listen to the noise.

But the officials in the prefectural government didn't care at all! They dragged out all the fireworks and firecrackers they had stockpiled for many years and set them off all at once to celebrate Luzhou's first Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in twelve years!
The entire South Gate Street resembled a boiling cauldron of oil; amidst the deafening roar, the crowd surged like a tidal wave through the smoke. Men carrying toddlers stood on tiptoe to peer in, while teenagers crowded under the covered walkways, their eyes wide with excitement. Young women and married women also opened their windows, peering down from the second floor with great interest…

Who wouldn't want to see the good news sent from the province with their own eyes? And to know immediately which literary star has been born in Luzhou?
All three shifts of yamen runners from the prefecture were mobilized, hand in hand clearing the way for the procession announcing the good news. The three head runners shouted themselves hoarse, but they still couldn't stop the people from surging onto the road. Even the incense table set up by the yamen that morning to worship the God of Literature was trampled into pieces; it was utter chaos and utter disarray.

Su Lu and the others squeezed through the crowd with great difficulty. When the messenger arrived, they stared wide-eyed at the red banner with a golden inscription on a pole, filled with envy...

This is the academic achievement they've always dreamed of, and even the pinnacle of their lives!
At this moment, the sunlight that had been casting its shadow over the flag finally softened, and someone loudly read out the words from the golden flower invitation—

"Good news! The Ninth Master of the Zhu family, whose given name is Liu, has achieved the highest rank of scholar in the imperial examination of the year Yichou (1895), ranking thirty-eighth! He has been summoned to the Emperor's throne in the Golden Palace!"

Below are the signatures of the Sichuan Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Sichuan Provincial Education Commissioner.

"Zihe, it's the headmaster!" Su Lu excitedly shook the stunned Zhu Zihe and shouted at the top of his lungs, "The headmaster has finally passed the imperial examination!"

The palace examination admits students on an equal basis, so passing the metropolitan examination is equivalent to becoming a Jinshi!
Zhu Zihe roared, "Quick, pinch me!"

Su Lu then pinched him on the back and shouted, "Does it hurt?" "It hurts, it hurts so much!" Zhu Zihe laughed loudly, "Looks like it wasn't a dream, our Zhu family has produced another Jinshi!"

The Li, Bai, and Lei families also had candidates taking the exam, but seeing only this one piece of good news, they knew their own family had failed. Despite their disappointment, they had to pull themselves together and congratulate the Zhu family on passing.

In those days, producing a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) meant a leap in social status for any family! Even if a prominent family had not produced a Jinshi for many years, their position would be in jeopardy.

The Zhu family is a prime example. Originally one of the top families in Luzhou, they had fallen to outside the top four after decades without producing a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). This decline was only possible because three members of the family had passed the provincial examinations (Juren). Otherwise, their situation would have been far worse.

There was no other way; a scholar who passed the imperial examination could only act arrogantly in the prefectures and counties, but he couldn't get along with people in the province.

But the province will definitely give face to the local Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)! Because the starting point for Jinshi is so high, even a third-class Jinshi can start as a magistrate in a prefecture or county. If their performance is excellent, they can be promoted to a ministerial post within a few years, or even selected as an imperial censor in one of the thirteen circuits, becoming the province's most important resource in the imperial court.

Those who ranked higher, specifically the second-class graduates, would be directly assigned to various government departments and put to immediate use...

Not to mention the promising future of a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), which is something a Juren (successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination) can't even dream of. So only a Jinshi can support a family of the highest caliber!
Zhu Liu's passing the imperial examination with flying colors naturally means that the Zhu family will once again be among the top families in Luzhou...

~~
The procession carrying the good news arrived at Zhujiashan, passed through many memorial archways, and stopped in front of the Zhu family mansion, where three single-copper merit flags stood.

Several thousand members of the Zhu clan had already gathered at the mansion. Even the patriarch of the Zhu family, who had not shown his face for a long time, came out to greet them, supported by his second and third brothers, despite his ailing body.

The lead official dismounted, unfurled the golden invitation, and launched into a rapid-fire announcement of good news:

"Congratulations on your outstanding achievement! Your esteemed Ninth Master, Liu, has achieved the 38th rank in the imperial examination of the year Yichou, and has been invited to the Emperor's court! From this moment on, he will rise above his station and become a pillar of the nation!"

"This humble servant congratulates your household, and all the masters and ladies of the house on your birthday!" The official said with a beaming smile, bowing as he added, "At the third hour, the Grand Ancestor will also personally come to offer his congratulations!"

"Good, good! Thank you for your trouble!" Old Master Zhu was in high spirits because of the happy occasion, and he felt a bit more energetic.

"Second brother, look at the reward!"

"Everyone has worked hard, please share in the joy!" Zhu Jie waved his hand, and several stewards brought over red silk trays, each tray filled with neatly arranged silver ingots, each weighing one tael, totaling two hundred!
This is just the reward for the first wave of messengers who brought good news. There will be second and third messengers, as well as rewards for Prefect Jia's entourage... The reward money for just one day will be close to a thousand taels.

They also treated the entire city to a continuous feast, and made various donations to fulfill vows... At this point, money was no longer considered money; it was practically flowing like water.

But the Zhu family spent the money willingly, contentedly, and with boundless joy! They wished they could spend it only once every three years, never missing a single time!
After all, I've only ever heard of families becoming rich overnight after students passed the imperial examinations; I've never heard of any scholar or graduate going bankrupt because they gave out tips...

Because everyone will think of you, give you money to spend, and let you earn it back even more!

~~
As expected, Prefect Jia arrived with the third wave of messengers bringing good news.

The sedan chair, carried by four men, landed smoothly. The prefect, dressed in a blue silk robe with a white pheasant embroidered patch and small floral patterns, stepped out of the sedan chair amidst the bright red firecrackers scattered on the ground.

With a beaming smile, he clasped his hands in a fist and bow, and said to the Zhu family elder who was waiting at the door, "Congratulations on your esteemed family! Your younger brother has honed his skills for ten years and has now passed the imperial examination with flying colors. This is not only an honor for your family, but also a source of pride for the entire Luzhou!"

Listen to this: once you get to high school, failing the imperial examinations repeatedly becomes a matter of "ten years of honing your skills"...

"Thank you so much! It's all thanks to your excellent guidance and great help, sir!" Old Master Zhu hurriedly bowed in return, stepping aside to let them in. "Sir, please come inside for tea. My humble abode has prepared a small amount of wine; I would be honored if you would do me the honor..."

"Please, please." Magistrate Jia politely declined, and finally personally helped Master Zhu into the mansion.

"It hasn't been easy," he said, gripping the old man Zhu's cold hand tightly. "It hasn't been easy for anyone..."

"Yes, it's been so tough for everyone." Old Master Zhu said with a smile through his tears, "I never thought I'd live to see this day before I pass away. Now I can face my ancestors with a clear conscience."

"We'll know once we pray to our ancestors; there's no need to go and report the good news in person," Prefect Jia said with a smile. "If you're happy, your illness will definitely get much better, and who knows, we might even see another scholar pass the imperial examination in our family."

"I don't ask for anything more, I don't ask for anything more." Grandpa Zhu waved his hand contentedly.

After everyone was seated in the hall, Prefect Jia took out several letters and handed them to Master Zhu one by one, saying, "These are congratulatory letters from the Grand Censor, the Provincial Governor, and the Provincial Judge. The three officials are very busy with their official duties and regret that they cannot come in person. They can only send letters and gifts to express their congratulations."

Grandpa Zhu quickly got up with help, accepted the gift with both hands, and bowed in gratitude towards Chengdu.

(End of this chapter)