The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

Results announcement day.

The entrance to Runzhou County School was already packed with people early in the morning.

The scene was more lively than during the Lunar New Year, yet more tense than visiting a grave. Hundreds of examinees craned their necks, like a flock of geese waiting to be fed. Parents burned incense and prayed to Buddha, some even burning paper money for the "exam god" on the spot, making the entrance to the county school a smoky mess.

Jiang Lin, accompanied by three students, stood on the outermost edge of the crowd, still holding the tattered folding fan in his hand, and even leisurely cracking sunflower seeds.

"Sir, please don't spit out the melon seed shells; it's uncivilized," Su Shi whispered, though one of his own legs was trembling involuntarily.

"Refined?" Jiang Lin flicked the sunflower seed shells precisely into the trash can in the distance. "Can being refined put food on the table? Once the results are released, we'll be going to collect the biggest debt."

As they were talking, the crowd suddenly parted like a tide.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Don't block our young master Wang's path!"

Several servants rudely pushed aside passersby, and Wang Shichang swaggered over, surrounded by a group of candidates from Wenchang Academy.

Today, Wang Shichang specially wore a bright red brocade robe, looking as festive as a red envelope. His face was radiant, clearly full of confidence in this exam—after all, he had dreamt last night that he had topped the list.

Upon seeing Jiang Lin, Wang Shichang paused, his smile instantly turning into mockery.

"Oh, Jiang Shanchang is still here?"

Wang Shichang walked up to Jiang Lin and pointed with his gold-inlaid fan to the notice board not far away:

"If I were you, I'd be packing my bags right now. Once this list is posted, your academy will belong to the Wang family."

His followers immediately echoed:

"That's right! Jiang Shanchang, our young master is merciful; he's forgiven your debt of five hundred strings of cash. You should kowtow and express your gratitude!"

"That dilapidated temple was later renamed 'Wang's Stable,' hahaha!"

Faced with the onslaught of spittle, Jiang Lin simply blew the dust off his sleeves.

"Young Master Wang's outfit is quite nice, and it's red enough."

Jiang Lin looked him up and down, a playful smile playing on his lips:

"I hope your face won't be redder than this dress when we see the list later."

Wang Shichang sneered, "You're stubborn as a mule! We'll see!"

"when--!"

A single gong rang out, drowning out all the noise.

The gates of the county school slowly opened, and two yamen runners with official swords at their waists and fire and water sticks cleared the way, followed by a clerk carrying a red notice.

"The results are out! The results are out!"

The crowd erupted in a frenzy, with everyone pushing and shoving forward like madmen.

Taking advantage of his superior numbers, Wang Shichang squeezed to the very front, securing the best viewing spot. He glanced back at Jiang Lin provocatively, then looked up at the red notice that was being posted.

"I am number one... I must be number one..." Wang Shichang silently chanted in his heart.

The list is posted.

The first name was written in the largest font at the very top, with bold and powerful strokes.

First place: Runzhou Jingshi Academy, Su Shi.

Wang Shichang's smile froze on his face instantly.

He rubbed his eyes.

You read that right. It's Su Shi.

"How is that possible? That kid who can only write bad poems?" Wang Shichang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly read on.

Second place: Runzhou Jingshi Academy, Zeng Gong.

Wang Shichang's breathing became rapid.

Next, continue.

Third place: Runzhou Jingshi Academy, Su Zhe.

boom!

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Wang Shichang on the top of his head, leaving him charred and raw.

The top three... are they really all from Jing Shi Academy?!

He refused to believe it and continued searching for his name.

Fourth place... no.

Fifth place... no.

……

Ninth place... no.

Tenth place... Not yet!

It wasn't until I saw the eleventh place that those three disgusting little characters, like flies, appeared: Wenchang Academy, Wang Shichang.

"No...this is impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Wang Shichang roared, feeling as if his bones had been removed, and almost collapsed to the ground.

Meanwhile, the surrounding crowd had already erupted in uproar.

Someone announced the winners of the top three spots, their voice trembling and changing tone:

"Jingshi Academy...sweeping the top three spots?!"

"Good heavens! Am I seeing things? The top three are all from that dilapidated academy?"

"Moreover, none of the top ten are from the Wang family's Wenchang Academy! A complete wipeout!"

All eyes instantly shifted from the list to Jiang Lin, who was standing on the periphery of the crowd.

Shocked, horrified, and incredulous.

The young headmaster, who was standing under the shade of a tree eating sunflower seeds, now seemed to everyone as an unfathomable god.

Jiang Lin patted the sunflower seed crumbs off his hands and slowly walked up to Wang Shichang, whose face was ashen.

Su Shi, Zeng Gong, and Su Zhe followed closely behind, their backs ramrod straight, their faces beaming with triumphant satisfaction.

"Young Master Wang."

Jiang Lin's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present:

"You remember that bet, right?"

Wang Shichang trembled, looked up at Jiang Lin, his lips quivering and unable to speak.

Jiang Lin smiled slightly, like a vengeful ghost demanding repayment:

"According to the contract, from this day forward, Wenchang Academy will remove its signboard and be renamed—"

"Jingshi Academy Runzhou Branch".

"The name is a bit long, but that's okay, I don't mind."

The surroundings were deathly silent.

Everyone held their breath. This was the Wang family, the richest family in Runzhou! Were they really going to ruin their reputation?

Wang Shichang's face turned a deep shade of liver, filled with shame and indignation. To lose to a poor, pedantic scholar in front of so many people was worse than death.

"You...you cheated!"

Wang Shichang suddenly started shouting hysterically, pointing at Su Shi and the other two:

"How could these three bookworms possibly take the top three spots? You must have bribed the examiners! You're definitely cheating!"

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Cheating? That's a serious crime!

Su Shi was furious and was about to step forward to argue when Jiang Lin stopped him.

Jiang Lin's gaze turned icy as he looked at the frenzied Wang Shichang. His previous languid demeanor vanished, replaced by a chilling aura of oppression.

"Wang Shichang, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

"The chief examiner for this county examination is Lord Zhao, and the deputy examiners are all officials appointed by the imperial court. Are you accusing me of cheating, or are you questioning the laws of the imperial court?"

With this serious accusation leveled against him, Wang Shichang was instantly rendered speechless.

Questioning the imperial court? He wouldn't dare even if he had ten lives!

But he was unwilling to admit defeat so easily, so he could only stubbornly hold on, his face turning red, like a rooster being choked.

Just when the situation reached a stalemate.

"Who is making such a fuss here?"

A dignified voice came from inside the county school gate.

Everyone turned around and saw the chief examiner, Lord Zhao, dressed in official robes, walking out surrounded by a group of constables.

Wang Shichang seemed to see a lifeline and rushed over, stumbling and crawling:

"Lord Zhao! Lord Zhao! I am Wang Shichang from Wenchang Academy! There must be something wrong with this list! Jiang Lin is usually incompetent and lazy, how could his students possibly take the top three spots? Please investigate, Your Excellency!"

He thought that Lord Zhao would give the Wang family some face, after all, the Wang family paid a lot of taxes to the county government every year.

To everyone's surprise, Lord Zhao didn't even glance at him.

Zhao walked straight past Wang Shichang, who was kneeling on the ground, and quickly approached Jiang Lin.

To everyone's astonishment, this usually aloof examiner actually bowed politely to the young headmaster dressed in plain clothes.

"May I ask, are you Jiang Lin, the Prefect of Jiangshan?"

Jiang Lin closed his folding fan and returned the greeting with neither servility nor arrogance:

"It is indeed I who am younger."

Lord Zhao sized Jiang Lin up and down, his admiration undisguised, even bordering on fervent:

"What excellent students Jiang Shanzhang has taught! Those three essays, especially those three poems, I was utterly astonished after reading them!"

"I have come out today specifically to invite Master Jiang inside for a chat and to learn a thing or two from him!"

boom!

This caused an uproar among the crowd.

Even the chief examiner had to "seek advice" from Jiang Lin?

Wang Shichang, who was kneeling on the ground, felt his head buzzing when he heard these words. His vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.

It’s over.

This time, they really hit a brick wall.