I'm coming clean: I'm the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

Sun Xiucai stepped forward quickly and bowed deeply to Gu Ci.

"Young teacher, you are truly talented! Only today have I, your student Sun, realized what exquisite writing is!"

He's over fifty years old and has taught at the county school for twenty years. What kind of candidates hasn't he seen?

But Gu Ci's article today convinced him completely.

That opening statement, that concept, that momentum!

He, Sun, could never write something like that in his lifetime.

The remaining test-takers around were completely dumbfounded.

Some people opened their mouths wide, while others rubbed their eyes vigorously.

"Wow, Mr. Sun, what's going on...?"

"What's his name, the child prodigy?"

Several yamen runners stood by, dumbfounded.

One of the young constables leaned close to his companion's ear and whispered, "Old Zhang, am I seeing things? Mr. Sun is a senior figure at our county school, how could he be treating an eight-year-old like this..."

Old Zhang glared at him: "Shut up! What do you know! That's a child prodigy. Have you ever seen an eight-year-old write that kind of article?"

The young constable shrank back, not daring to speak again.

Gu Ang rushed forward and helped Sun Xiucai up.

"What are you doing, sir? Please rise!"

He spoke, but his hands trembled slightly.

An old scholar who has taught for twenty years actually performed such a grand ceremony for his younger brother. The younger brother is really something else!

Gu Ci stood still, his expression calm, and bowed slightly to Sun Xiucai.

"Sir, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

Sun Xiucai was helped up, and he held onto Gu Ci's hand tightly.

"Young sir, your article brought tears to my eyes! A sage judges a person not by their actions but by their heart, not by their superficial appearances but by their essence! I admire this approach immensely!"

As he spoke, he was about to bow again.

Gu Ci quickly stopped him.

"Sir, you flatter me."

Scholar Sun waved his hand: "I accept this bow willingly!"

He turned around and shouted to the other candidates who were still staring blankly, "What are you all staring at? Hurry up and come over to pay your respects! It's your good fortune to be taking the exam with Mr. Gu today!"

The test takers looked at each other, bewildered.

Someone hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and bowed to Gu Ci.

"Young teacher, I admire you."

Once there's a first one, there's bound to be a second.

Soon, more than a dozen candidates surrounded him and bowed to him.

"Young master, you are exceptionally talented!"

"This young gentleman is truly a child prodigy!"

"The students have truly broadened their horizons today!"

Gu Ang stood aside, watching the group of people surrounding his younger brother, feeling extremely smug.

Just then, a heavy footstep came from the front hall.

Everyone turned around.

An elderly man with a white beard and a livid face walked out from the front hall.

It was none other than Instructor Zhao De.

When Sun Xiucai saw him, his expression tightened.

The other candidates were so frightened that they took several steps back.

Zhao De's prestige at the county school was no joke.

What he hates most are those who don't read the classics and only engage in crooked and evil ways.

Today's children's exam was set by him personally.

The saying "Do not seek wealth unjustly, nor avoid danger unjustly" has stumped countless test takers.

Zhao De walked up to Gu Ci and stopped.

His beard trembled slightly, and his eyes held an extremely complex expression.

There was guilt, shame, and a sense of relief.

The surrounding candidates dared not even breathe.

Sun Xiucai opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Zhao De stared at Gu Ci for a long time, then bowed ninety degrees and performed a full salute.

"I was blind and nearly overlooked a gem! Today's events were all due to that scoundrel Zhang's slanderous words in my ear. It was my prejudice that led me to set such obscure and strange questions, almost ruining the young scholar's future! I apologize to you!"

The words had barely left his lips.

The whole place erupted.

"What? Scholar Zhang is slandering me?"

"I knew today's questions were so tricky!"

"So it was Zhang Yan who was behind this!"

"He's just jealous of Mr. Gu's talent!"

"How despicable! A scholar who passed the imperial examinations, to do such a thing!"

The test takers were filled with righteous indignation and began to hurl insults.

Sun Xiucai was so angry that his beard stood on end.

"That bastard surnamed Zhang, I've disliked him for a long time! Just because he's a scholar, he acts all high and mighty in the county!"

Looking at the stubborn old scholar who had been obstinate his whole life, Gu Ci felt no pleasure.

He reached out and helped Zhao De up.

"What's past cannot be undone, but the future can still be shaped. I am deeply grateful to the instructor for having such a mindset."

Zhao De raised his head, tears streaming down his face.

In his life, there are two types of people he admires the most.

One type is those who are more learned than him.

One type is someone whose character is more upright than his.

Gu Xiaoshentong has both.

He grasped Gu Ci's hand, his fingers trembling.

"Young sir, today I truly understand what it means to be a formidable young talent!"

He turned around and shouted loudly towards the front hall, "Someone! Grind the ink! I need to write a letter!"

A minor official ran over: "Instructor Zhao, what do you need to write?"

Zhao De slammed his hand on the table.

"A letter should be written to the prefectural school, impeaching Zhang Yan for misconduct and interference in the imperial examinations, despite him being a successful candidate in the provincial examinations!"

Scholar Sun clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Instructor Zhao is brilliant!"

The test takers also joined in the commotion.

"Yes! Impeach him!"

"Let him know what karma really means!"

"So what if you're a scholar who passed the imperial examination? You can still impeach him!"

Gu Ang felt incredibly pleased to hear these words.

He leaned close to Gu Ci's ear and whispered, "Ci'er, Zhang Yan is really in trouble this time!"

Gu Ci didn't speak.

He knew things weren't that simple.

There must have been connections behind Zhang Yan's success in becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations).

Today, Zhao De's impeachment will likely enrage him completely.

Wang Chengen and Liu Juren also came out from the front hall.

Wang Chengen smiled when he saw Zhao De bowing to Gu Ci.

"Instructor Zhao, why go to such lengths?"

Zhao Dezhi stood up and bowed to Wang Chengen.

"Lord Wang, I almost did something foolish! If it weren't for Mr. Gu's article today, I'm afraid I would have made one mistake after another!"

Liu, the scholar, stroked his beard and looked at Gu Ci with a smile.

"Today I have truly witnessed what a genius looks like. Young Master Gu, I will make a copy of your article when I get back to the prefectural city and show those self-righteous pedantic scholars what real writing is!"

Gu Ci bowed to him.

"Mr. Liu, you flatter me."

Wang Chengen walked up to Gu Ci and patted him on the shoulder.

"This essay you wrote today is truly exceptional. I will personally write a letter of recommendation and send it to the prefectural school later. You will surely have a smooth journey when you go to the prefectural city to take the prefectural examination!"

Gu Ci bowed again.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Wang Chengen waved his hand and turned back to the front hall.

Liu, the scholar, also went inside.

Zhao De stood there, looking at Gu Ci with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Young sir, I've taught countless students in my life, but only a few have truly excelled. You are the most talented I've ever seen. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Gu Ci bowed.

"I've noted it down."

Zhao De nodded and turned to leave.

Sun Xiucai followed.

Inside the examination hall, only the Gu brothers and a few other candidates remained.

The candidates looked at Gu Ci with eyes full of awe.

Someone mustered up their courage and stepped forward.

"Young master, I have a favor to ask."

Gu Ci looked at him: "Please speak."

The candidate rubbed his hands, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Student... I'd like to ask if I could copy a copy of your article? I'd like to take it home and study it carefully!"

Upon hearing this, the other candidates also gathered around.

"Young teacher, I want to copy too!"

"Students too!"

Gu Ci smiled.

"You're too kind, everyone. This article is just a piece of work written on the spot, nothing special. If you would like to see it, the county school should post a notice in a few days, and you can go and see it then."

Upon hearing this, the candidates expressed their gratitude profusely before taking their leave.

Gu Ang watched their retreating figures and pursed his lips.

"Ci'er, these people were just watching the show a moment ago, and now they're trying to curry favor."

Gu Ci patted Gu Ang on the shoulder.

"Brother, it's only human nature."

As the two walked out of the county school, a crowd had already gathered at the entrance.

When the people heard that the children's examinations had ended, they all rushed to see the excitement.

When Gu Ci came out, a cheer erupted from the crowd.

"Prodigy Gu!"

"The child prodigy has emerged!"

"Son, look! It's your idol!"

......

Gu Ang protected Gu Ci as they squeezed through the crowd.

On their way home, Gu Ang suddenly spoke up: "Ci'er, Zhang Yan is probably going crazy after all this. He definitely won't let this go."

Gu Ci nodded: "Brother, you're right."

He looked up at the gloomy sky in the distance, the clouds were thick and hung low.

It looks like it's going to rain.