I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Chapter 97 A Lesson to Be Unforgettable

Xiao Mingyuan chuckled, sat down again, and lowered his voice.

"Having spent so much time with Brother Qing, I've absorbed his ideas naturally. Besides, I'm a businessman myself, so I understand these principles. And the keywords he just wrote down have given me a lot of inspiration."

After listening to what they had to say, I made up my mind immediately.

Li Yanshen gave a thumbs up: "Awesome!"

……

On the stage, Xue Wenyuan noticed that Chen Chengbo showed no intention of getting up.

He had no choice but to stand up and bow to both sides.

"Two rounds have passed, and Songlin Academy has won both. There's no need to compete in the third round."

He glanced at the students of Tingzhu Academy, his tone heavy but his voice calm.

"As agreed, Tingzhu Academy was to give four county examination slots to Songlin Academy. We told you long ago that you were not as skilled, and we told you not to cause trouble, but you insisted on doing so. Now look what happened, you can't even keep eight slots."

The people from Tingzhu Academy slumped their heads.

They did ask for this opportunity themselves, and now they've accepted their fate; there's nothing anyone can do about it.

They left the school dejectedly after Xue Wenyuan.

Chen Chengbo stood beside the podium, his expression unreadable.

But you could see that he clenched and unclenched his fist several times.

Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke.

"Congratulations on Songlin Academy having a few more spots this year, but that's only for this year. It will revert to the original situation next year."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

Xu Qing watched him leave, a slight smile playing on her lips.

This hurdle is now behind us.

But judging from Chen Chengbo's expression, he definitely has a backup plan.

That cunning old fox, I wonder what he'll do next.

The classroom fell silent.

Xiao Mingyuan finally let out a long breath after holding it in for so long. He leaned back in his chair and patted his chest.

He lowered his voice and said something to Xu Qing.

"That was close! I was so scared! I actually won! I actually won!"

Xu Qing looked at him and smiled.

"I told you before, as a merchant, you have your own strengths, and now you've discovered them, haven't you?"

Xiao Mingyuan nodded and smiled. "Hehehe, you're right."

At this point, he turned and stared at the people who had just made the bet.

"What were you guys saying just now? Go to Xiao Family Cloth Shop and buy me a bra, then take it around the county town."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions turning quite grim.

If someone were to run around the county town wearing a woman's bra, their reputation would be ruined.

One of them spoke, his face turning pale.

"Young Master Xiao, this is too difficult. Can you try another method?"

Xiao Mingyuan snorted coldly, "You were the ones who said those nasty things just now, and now you're finding it difficult? I don't care, you can go."

At this moment, Li Yan stopped him.

"Brother Mingyuan, it is indeed a bit difficult to make them wear that. Even if they pass the imperial examinations, they will not be able to come back and become officials. However, I have an idea."

As he said this, a wicked smile crooked his lips.

Li Yan pointed at those people and said.

"How about this, let each of them buy fifty taels of bras, and we won't tell them what they're going to do with them. That way, we can save them from losing face."

When those people heard this, they genuinely thought that Li Yan was speaking up for them.

"Thank you, Young Master Li... Hmm? What?"

But upon hearing that it was fifty taels, their faces turned grim.

One of them spoke up.

"Young Master Li, are you trying to help us? Or are you digging a deep pit for us? We can't afford fifty taels."

Li Yan spoke with a stern face.

"How can you talk like that? I'm just trying to help you. Since you can't afford it, why don't you go run around the city in a bra?"

Xiao Mingyuan also spoke from the side.

"Hurry up! What are you talking nonsense for? If you don't want to buy, then hurry up and run! Even a child's fart can cause a crater, and you're all supposed to be students of Songlin Academy. Your words are less fluent than a child's fart."

Several people had long faces.

Although they had no money, it was less harmful to spend money to buy things than to become the laughingstock of the whole county.

"We can buy it, but you...you need to give us some time to raise the money."

"Yes, we'd rather die than be humiliated. We certainly won't lose face. But we have no money either. If you really won't let us go, then just kill us."

Xiao Mingyuan snorted coldly. "What would I do with your lives? Hurry up and raise the money. You have ten days. If you still can't raise the money, I'll have someone block your door and shout at you. Let's see if you still have any shame then."

One person blushed and said, "We're all students of Songlin Academy, is this really necessary?"

Xu Qing snorted coldly.

"Now you know you're students of an academy. What about before? This is a lesson you'll never forget. Let's see if you dare look down on others again."

Those people wanted to say more, but seeing Xu Qing and Xiao Mingyuan's intimidating faces, they could only shut their mouths and turn to borrow money.

……

Subsequently, Zou Linchuan announced that Xu Qing and Xiao Mingyuan had both won the written examination. Their poetry and couplets, in particular, were exceptional, earning them direct eligibility for the county-level examination.

No one objected, since the two of them had genuinely won the spots.

Li Yan smiled and came closer, just saying that they should have a proper celebration.

But Zou Linchuan stopped him.

Zou Linchuan's expression was solemn: "Xiao Mingyuan, Xu Qing, come with me."

When Xu Qing and Xiao Mingyuan arrived at the side hall, Zou Linchuan had already dropped his serious expression and revealed the gentle demeanor of an elder looking at a younger generation.

"Sit down and talk."

Xu Qing and Xiao Mingyuan sat down obediently.

Then, Zou Linchuan took out a slightly worn wooden box from under his desk, opened the lid, and inside was a neatly stacked pile of books. He took them out, flipped through a couple of pages, placed them on the table, and handed them to them.

"These are the real questions from the county examinations over the past five years, each with an explanation. I compiled them myself over the years, so take them back and study them carefully."

Xu Qing took the stack of books, but before she could even look at them, Xiao Mingyuan leaned over.

"Good heavens, Headmaster, these are truly treasures! I've seen these priced in bookstores. A copy without any explanation costs twenty taels of silver, and those with private explanations are even more priceless, rarely seen outside the sects. Headmaster, you think too highly of us."

Xu Qing quickly stood up and thanked him.

"Thank you very much, Headmaster. This is too precious."

Xiao Mingyuan also stood up, "Thank you, Headmaster! Thank you, Headmaster!"

Zou Linchuan waved his hand.

"Alright, sit down. Don't be so polite. You guys really made me look good."

"Then? We'll accept it?" Xiao Mingyuan looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing had already reached out and grabbed the things...

"Okay, keep it safe, no need to be polite."

After speaking, Zou Linchuan sat down behind his desk, poured two cups of tea and pushed them towards him, his tone a little more casual than before.

"I've heard some rumors about your relationship with Chen Shijin. Let me ask you... what exactly is your relationship with that Chen family child?"

Xiao Mingyuan picked up his teacup and took a sip. Hearing this, he almost choked. He put down his teacup and laughed awkwardly.

"We were classmates, and we got along pretty well."