Top Scholar

Chapter 281 Good news comes frequently
All the examinees in Zhuzi Lane lived in the county government office or the house opposite the county government office.

So the increasingly close sound of wind and percussion must be coming towards them.

"Let's go and greet them at the door," said Ma Zhaizhang, placing his wine cup on the table and standing up.

"Okay." All the classmates got up and followed them to the door.

"How much should we reward you with later?" Wang Chong asked.

"You're quite confident," the classmates laughed.

"Whether we win or not, we have to be prepared. It would be embarrassing if we won but didn't have enough money," Wang Chong said.

“It’s alright, we can chip in if it’s not enough,” Ma Zhaizhang said. “I asked Uncle Tian, ​​and he said that the top five are usually rewarded with ten taels of silver, and the rest with five taels. No one will stop you from giving more.”

The classmates smiled wryly and said, "Five taels is enough, you're giving us more."

As they spoke, the candidates arrived at the entrance of the government office. They found the usually tightly closed gate wide open, and Steward Tian and the rest of the government office staff were already waiting at the entrance.

Dozens of firecrackers were placed at the base of the wall, and a table of money strings sealed with red silk was set up in the gatehouse.

"Uncle Tian has prepared quite a lot," Su Lu said with a smile.

"I've been eagerly awaiting to congratulate the young masters!" Steward Tian said with a bright smile. "My parents have decreed that the county will cover all the reward money for the young masters later!"

"How can this be allowed?"

"Yes, we've already caused too much trouble. We can't let the county spend any more money," the classmates said apologetically.

"It's alright, the county already gives a reward to those who pass the imperial examinations," Steward Tian said with a smile. "The more money we spend, the happier the master will be!"

The candidates were naturally extremely grateful to Magistrate Lu.

At this moment, the troupe of messengers finally appeared before everyone with music and fanfare.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, hoping the person announcing their name would call it out.

Unexpectedly, the messenger team that came to deliver the good news turned straight towards the opposite door.

"Oh my god..." Su Lu's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly turned and ran back.

I forgot who said this during lunch, but when the reporter announces a victory, the rankings are announced from last to first.

So the first one to report should be the one with the lowest ranking on this street.

The eldest brother obviously couldn't, so... so...

Su Lu ran back to his doorstep in three quick steps.

The whole family heard the commotion and came out to greet them.

Not only Chun Ge'er, Su Youcai, and others who reside in Luzhou, but also the old man, the old woman, the eldest uncle and aunt, the youngest uncle, the youngest aunt, and the youngest sister all came out.

Today is the day a scholar will be born in our family; on such an important day, how could they possibly still be staying in the county? They came to Luzhou by boat the day before yesterday…

The messenger, dressed in red, greeted the large family who came out with a broad smile and asked, "May I ask if this is the Su residence?"

"Yes, yes." The old man nodded vigorously, his hands trembling as he grasped Su Youjin and Su Youcai's hands and asked, "Which of my grandsons won?"

"Congratulations, Master Su!" The messenger unfurled a red vertical banner announcing the good news and read it aloud:
"Good news! The academic journal reports—Your esteemed Master Su, a man of exceptional talent..."
Xiao, a Hanlin Academy lecturer and Vice Provincial Surveillance Commissioner and Provincial Education Commissioner of Sichuan, was appointed by imperial decree to pass the provincial examination in Luzhou, ranking fiftieth!

"I actually won?!" Su Youcai was stunned. He thought he had no chance and was preparing to try again next year...

"My second uncle actually became a scholar?" My aunt rubbed her chest in disbelief. "Am I dreaming again? Ouch..."

She glared at her aunt and said, "Why did you pinch me?!"

"Then it's not a dream," the aunt whispered behind the proprietress.

"Congratulations, Master Su." The messenger presented the good news to Su Youcai with both hands.

"Oh, thank you so much." Su Youcai seemed to snap out of a daze and quickly bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you for your favor, Grandmaster. I am deeply grateful!"

"Quickly, take a look and give me a reward!" the proprietress hurriedly ordered. The younger brother then presented a tray full of strings of coins wrapped in red silk to the messenger.

"Thank you for the reward, Lord Su!" The officials and servants beamed with joy, and they played their instruments even more enthusiastically, even adding two strings of firecrackers as a bonus.

Amidst the crackling of firecrackers and the flying red embers, Su Youcai was overjoyed, but then tears suddenly streamed down his face...

This was the scene he had dreamt of countless times in the dead of night. Unfortunately, each time he woke up, he was overwhelmed by a profound sense of loss and emptiness.

This time it wasn't a dream, but I can only comfort my former bedmate in my dreams...

The old man's eyes also reddened, and he patted his son's shoulder hard, saying, "Good, second son, you finally didn't embarrass yourself this time!"

"Father, all those years of supporting me have finally paid off." Su Youcai's nose stung as if he had been punched, and tears streamed down his face. He knelt down and kowtowed to his father.

"Don't kneel, don't kneel. You're a husband now." The old man didn't dare accept it; no scholar had ever bowed to him before.

"Haha, you jest, sir. Even if Master Su passed the imperial examination, he would still have to kneel before you, the old lord," the official laughed.

"Oh, is that so..." The old man smiled sheepishly, having never been a father to a scholar, he didn't know. But he still held onto his son and said, "Today is your big day, if you have to kneel, kneel tomorrow."

At this point, the uncle invited the officials into the courtyard for tea.

"We appreciate your kind offer, but we must go on to deliver the good news to the next family." The messenger politely declined, bowed, and took his leave, saying, "Congratulations again to Master Su. Please come to the academy to pay your respects to the Grand Master at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow."

"Yes, sir." Su Youcai quickly clasped his hands in response.

"Then we'll take our leave." With that, the messenger and his entourage, accompanied by music, headed off to the next house. Watching them go, the eldest aunt muttered, "We have more than one scholar in our family; why didn't they report them all at once?"

"What if you only pay once after you've paid for everything?" the uncle laughed. "These people are cunning. They might come back after circling around a couple of times."

Just as the family was overjoyed, another group of musicians arrived at the street corner.

Obviously, they waited for the first group to leave before the second group arrived, so they wouldn't steal the spotlight from each other... How could they ask for a reward if they didn't please their new husband?
This time, the group moved to the entrance of the county government office. Su Lu had no choice but to go back to the other side; at a time like this, his biological father wasn't there, but his adoptive father had to be.

The music stopped abruptly, and the candidates held their breath, listening intently as the announcer loudly read out the good news:
"Your esteemed father, Wang Chong, is appointed by... Xiao, the Provincial Education Commissioner, and ranked forty-eighth in the provincial examination in Luzhou!"

"Phew..." Wang Chong breathed a long sigh of relief, his heart finally at ease. "Give me a reward!"

Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, Steward Tian presented five strings of cash as a reward.

The messenger accepted the good news and left, expressing his deepest gratitude.

Wang Chong then took out all the silver he had on him and stuffed it all into Steward Tian's arms.

"What are you doing?" Steward Tian hurriedly asked.

"Since the state examination, we have been fortunate to receive the meticulous care of Uncle Tian and everyone else. How could we not reward you if we gave them a reward?" Wang Chong laughed loudly, "A little silver is not much to express our gratitude. Please accept it."

"Then we'll share in Lord Wang's good fortune." Steward Tian happily accepted the money and had his men kowtow to Lord Wang in thanks.

At this moment, the third team of messengers arrived, this time heading towards the Su residence.

Then the messenger reported the victory:

"Good news! Your young master, Su Dan, has been promoted by... Supervisor Xiao of Education, and has ranked thirty-eighth in the provincial examination in Luzhou!"

The Su family erupted in another wave of elation: "That's wonderful! That's wonderful! Dan-ge'er won too!"

Su Dan's feigned calm finally gave way to a relieved smile. She hugged her cousin and godfather tightly, saying gratefully, "Brother, I'm only able to get into school because of you!"

"What are you saying?" Su Lu didn't take credit, but squeezed Su Dan's arm tightly and laughed, "I'm just an assistant, whether you pass the exam or not depends on yourselves!"

After all, he had given Li Qiyu and Cheng Wanfan plenty of "dad blessings"...

~~
"Good news! Your son, Cheng Wanzhou, has been admitted to the Imperial Academy in Luzhou, ranking twenty-fifth in the provincial examination, thanks to the recommendation of the Provincial Education Commissioner, Xiao!"

"Good news! Your young master, Qiao Feng, has been admitted to the Imperial Academy in Luzhou, ranking twelfth in the provincial examination!"

"Good news! Your son, Lin Zhihong, has been promoted to the Imperial Academy by the Provincial Education Commissioner Xiao, ranking ninth in the Luzhou examination!"

As one group after another of messengers entered Zhuzi Lane, the people of Dahe Street were all drawn to watch the spectacle.

"Good heavens, this Pearl Lane is brimming with scholarly atmosphere, a veritable gathering of scholars!" The onlookers were filled with envy and wonder, and of course, they also offered their congratulations and asked for rewards.

Congratulations, my husband!

Congratulations, my lord!

"Here's a reward!" The new husband couldn't stand hearing that.

Manager Tian then ordered his men to break the copper coins apart, put them into a winnowing basket, and scatter them among the onlookers.

Some were happy, some were sad. Seeing that they had already made it into the top ten but still hadn't been selected, Ma Qianli, Tao Cheng, and the others knew that they had definitely failed this time...

"Aren't there still eight left?" Li Qiyu comforted them.

"Stop gloating," Tao Cheng said irritably. "What kind of monsters are in the top ten? Which of us looks like one of them?"

"Alas, it seems I'm truly not destined for studying." The future young commander sighed, weighed the silver he could never seem to spend, and tossed it to the doorman, Yu Mendao.

"Although I didn't pass the exam, I'm still giving you all this as a reward."

"We dare not accept it, Young Master Ma, please take it back," Yu Men hurriedly said.

"Looking down on me?" Ma Qianli's face fell. He was determined to spend this money today.

Even Buddha couldn't stop him!

"Then we thank Young Master Ma for the reward!" Yu Men bowed and scraped as he put away the money.

"Sigh..." The money was spent, but Ma Qianli was still unhappy. He longed to hear them call him "Master Ma"...

~~
The Su family across the street were also a little panicked.

Aunt grabbed Uncle's arm, her expression tense, and asked, "Husband, why haven't Chun-ge and Qiu-ge arrived yet? Could it be..."

"Pah, pah, don't talk nonsense!" Her uncle glared at her and said, "Qiu-ge'er is the top scholar in the prefecture, he's guaranteed to pass."

"What about Chun-ge'er?" Auntie asked in a trembling voice.

"It should be fine, he ranked third in both the county and state examinations..." The uncle's voice also tightened.

It felt like we had been waiting for a very, very long time, and finally, the familiar sounds of music and drums rang out again.

Just as my uncle had predicted, the first team to arrive was indeed the one that had registered...

These guys had beaming smiles on their faces, showing not a trace of embarrassment, and shouted from afar:

"Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, young master Su! Your son, Su Man, has been appointed by imperial decree as a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy and the deputy provincial inspector and education commissioner of Sichuan. He has achieved third place in the provincial examination in Luzhou!"

P.S. Are you satisfied now? Can you vote with your monthly ticket now?
Also, Leader Li, don't worry, you can take the exam again next year...

(End of this chapter)