Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

"Nighttime emergency, 120 yuan."

The doctor could tell that the two didn't have much money, so he didn't advise Deng Zechen to get his medicine from him.

With a pained expression, Deng Zechen pulled out a string of coins and counted out 20 loose coins to hand to the doctor.

Fortunately, Lin Ruhai sponsored all my daily expenses for studying. In my spare time, I did odd jobs and resold some unused stationery, which saved me more than 1 tael of silver.

It's not that I haven't thought about following in the footsteps of my predecessors and making money by plagiarism, but unfortunately, judging from the books I read now, those famous poems and songs have already been circulated in this world.

It's just that the authors are different.

One tael of silver was roughly equal to 1000 copper coins. This loss of 120 coins made Deng Zechen, who was already poor and had no income, realize once again that it was impossible to move an inch without money.

The doctor took the money and left. Feng Ziming, seeing Deng Zechen still heartbroken over the lost money after suddenly waking up, tentatively spoke:

"Are you really alright? The county examination is just around the corner. Don't let something like this ruin your future."

"I'm really fine. It's just that I've been studying too hard lately, and I suddenly relaxed today, which caused this."

Facing Feng Ziming, who still looked suspicious, Deng Zechen repeatedly assured him that he was in good health.

There are only 3 days left until the county exam. If anything seems wrong, I will see a doctor immediately. I will never try to tough it out just because I'm worried about the consultation and medicine costs.

After seeing off Feng Ziming, who had spent the afternoon checking on him since he hadn't left the house, Deng Zechen returned to his room.

I've overlooked this; hardly anyone used to come here when I lived here. I never expected that our friendship from our school days would suddenly become so strong.

With only three days left until the county examination, the most urgent task is to review my lessons again. I must achieve good results in the upcoming county examination to facilitate my subsequent plans.

As I flipped through the book in my hand, a thought flashed through my mind:

In "Dream of the Red Chamber", Lin Daiyu was a student of Jia Yucun, a second-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). She herself was quite talented, and Lin Ruhai was in a high position, so he had some understanding of the chief examiner of this county examination.

Wouldn't it increase our chances of success if we could get guidance from Lin Daiyu or Lin Ruhai?

Deng Zechen first locked the door to prevent others from entering.

We entered the Illusory Realm again.

There was no rush to the main hall. Before meeting Lin Daiyu and unlocking her favorability, this illusory realm could only be used as a study room due to the different flow of time.

Now a summoning function has been added, but it's unclear what conditions will be required to summon other characters in the future...

Upon returning to the main hall, Deng Zechen looked at the passage that connected to Lin Daiyu's dream and decided to enter it first to deal with the county examination at hand.

Deng Zechen's figure appeared in Lin Daiyu's dream, and Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up when she saw him.

It seemed this was indeed not a dream, and upon realizing this, Lin Daiyu became more reserved.

Then, she walked slowly towards Deng Zechen with light, graceful steps, but upon reaching him, she couldn't wait to speak:

"I still have so many questions for you, I'm so glad you came again."

As soon as Deng Zechen had a thought, a small table and two round stools appeared beside him.

"No rush, there's plenty of time, we'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

Lin Daiyu was somewhat surprised. Deng Zechen casually invited Lin Daiyu to sit down, and after chatting about everyday matters for a while, Deng Zechen finally got to the point:

"I see your father has hired a scholar who passed the imperial examination to tutor you. The county examination is coming up soon; does your tutor have any requirements for you in this regard?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu showed a thoughtful expression. "The teacher usually teaches the Four Books, and also some poetry and lyrics for beginners."

Because I was not allowed to take the imperial examinations, although I did talk about some of the eight-legged essays for the imperial examinations, I did not go into more depth.

My father has been at home lately and has been asking me about my studies a lot.

A few days ago, I got into the mood and even had to do a few essays on the questions and policy questions for the county-level examination.

Hmph, although Jia Yucun came to the Lin family to educate Lin Daiyu, he wasn't just there to coast along; he was more interested in Lin Ruhai's political resources.

If Lin Daiyu hadn't been exceptionally intelligent, she probably wouldn't have been so attentive to her teaching.

Deng Zechen inwardly grumbled, but didn't show it on his face. He simply continued asking:

"Oh? What did your father say?"

"Father said that the chief examiner this time was originally a county magistrate who worked in the capital, but he offended someone and almost got imprisoned."

Perhaps a noble person admires his character and has therefore demoted him to this place as a county magistrate, hoping that he will be reinstated and given an important position in the future.

He was a person who cared about the world and valued virtue, and he disliked those so-called talented people who only knew how to read books and write poetry and were full of flowery language.

Therefore, to achieve good results in this county examination under his guidance, one must focus on practical matters and avoid generalities.

Deng Zechen suppressed his excitement; such inside information about officialdom could only be known by those within the officialdom.

Without proper information channels, if one arrives at the county examination hall unsure of the examiner's preferences and commits a taboo, one can only accept their misfortune.

"If you were the magistrate of this county, what would you choose as the topic for this county examination?"

Lin Daiyu fell into deep thought, as if she had returned to the time when Lin Ruhai was testing her studies.

But he answered confidently in no time:

"The content of the Four Books is too extensive, but as long as you read and understand them thoroughly, it is not a big problem."

"They'll probably set some questions about bandit suppression. Bandits are a persistent problem here; everyone considers it a hot potato, and no one has done anything about it for a long time. The magistrate, wanting to make a difference in this area, will definitely gather ideas from all sides."

As if she had thought of something, Lin Daiyu added:

"The local gentry are deeply entrenched and interconnected. If the intricacies of their power aren't clarified, even orders from the prefect or governor, let alone the county magistrate, will be difficult to implement..."

At this point, Lin Daiyu paused and glanced at Deng Zechen.

Although he didn't understand why the man was curious about the county exam, he still told him everything he knew without reservation.

They then discussed the matter of going to the Rongguo Mansion:

"My father was arranging for me to go to my maternal grandparents' house a few days ago. After I told my father about your situation, he gave me several land deeds in the capital and some money."

"That puts my mind at ease; it does resonate with some of what you said."

Hearing this, Deng Zechen had no choice but to follow Lin Daiyu's lead:

"Just follow your father's arrangements."

Lin Daiyu nodded again, and Deng Zechen had a sudden thought, and a set of paper and pen appeared on the table.

Deng Zechen pushed the paper and pen in front of Lin Daiyu:

"I can see that you speak eloquently, so I must have already come up with a plan. I will write an essay for you on the topic of refugees, bandits, and gentry, which you just mentioned."

I'll bring them to your mother; she'll be relieved to see you're doing well.

Lin Daiyu took the paper and pen, pondered for a moment, and then wrote with flowing strokes.

Whether it was because the concept of time was blurred in the Land of Illusion or something else, Deng Zechen felt that not much time had passed.

Lin Daiyu set her own questions and answered them herself.

After reading it, Deng Zechen couldn't help but sigh, "Even the top student in the school can't compare to this talent."

His writing style is ethereal and ingenious, and his implied meanings are ingeniously conceived.

She truly deserves to be the winner among all the talented women from official families in the Grand View Garden, relying on her three chrysanthemum poems.

Lin Daiyu wanted to say something more, but found that the scene in front of her was gradually blurring.

I could only see that the other person seemed to be saying something to me, but the voice gradually faded away and I couldn't hear it anymore.

Deng Zechen watched Lin Daiyu gradually disappear, still hoping to extract more information, but he was helpless.

All he could do was pound the table in front of the empty palace and shout anxiously:

"Keep going!"