The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 668: Another Year of Spring Exams (4)_1

Therefore, after finishing visiting relatives, Chang Yonglin was summoned back, and the three little radishes followed Mo Heng every day to study, create policy essays, and engage in discussions and competitions.

Sometimes, when an opinion was put forth, Pei Qin and Pei Qian would also join the discussion, each expressing their own views, which were finally summarized and condensed into a policy essay.

Mo Heng only imparted a view layers of truly deep knowledge, just enough to pass the spring examination. Now, it was all about the foundations.

Even the Lantern Festival was simply glossed over.

Li Baoxiang also came over several times to consult Mo Heng on scholarly matters. Both Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin—who hadn’t even fully grown their facial hair—were about to take the spring examination, while Fang Liuming had already gone to the Imperial College and would be participating in the higher levels of the examinations. If he failed again this time, it would truly be an embarrassment!

Mo Heng had told him before last year’s spring examination to settle down and study hard. By this year, he was still as impulsive as ever.

Even Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin, as well as Xiao Yong, all young, could see his restlessness and lack of composure, lacking the dedication to scholarship, which meant he most likely would still not pass this year’s examination.

Old Pei’s House was also busy preparing for the spring examination. Pei Wenli was called back to provide Pei Wenchen with his expertise. Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu joined forces to bribe and sway the new County Magistrate Jiang Benxin.

After Jiang Benxin arrived in Yuanyang County, although he did not behave like Huang Youzhong, who visited Pai Building and gave Pei Qin hints, he dodged every attempt of bribery and persuasion from Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu with evasive tactics.

Having been in the officialdom for over a decade, he came with his own agenda. As a fellow Palace Graduate struggling with promotions, his future rise depended on which master he served. Mo Heng and Pei Qin were both allies of the Prince, and his overseeing their activities was also to lend a hand. Let alone the silver offered by Old Pei’s House, even if it was a sackful, he would not accept it from them.

Pei Zongli thought Jiang Benxin was upright and incorruptible, but then he saw him covertly visiting brothels.

Seizing on this vice, Qian Wanxiu, after inquiring about his many concubines from Jiang Benxin’s entourage, started contemplating a plan for Pei Wenlee.

To let her become a concubine and marry an old man was something Pei Wenlee firmly opposed to. "My brother is about to become a Palace Graduate and take up an official post. I also want to marry the young master of an official’s family! Not to stay married here in Yuanyang County!"

"Not considering your family background, just based on your current age and looks, let alone the young masters of official families, even becoming a merchant’s concubine would be difficult!" Qian Wanxiu had long disapproved of Pei Wenlee. If she were her daughter, she would have set her straight long ago. Fortunately, she did not have a daughter, but two sons.

Fuming with rage, Pei Wenlee’s eyes bulged with indignation, "Even if I can’t marry well, I refuse! Why should I be used to pave the way for your sons’ examinations!?"

"It’s not just for the sake of Wenchen now, it’s for the entire Old Pei’s House! What do you understand!" Qian Wanxiu said, frowning and impatient.

"I refuse to marry for anyone!" Pei Wenlee strongly opposed, unwilling to give in. That wretched Pei Qin, even if she married a pretty boy, it would be one incomparably handsome. Why should she have to marry an old man and be a concubine!?

Seeing her dissent, Qian Wanxiu’s voice turned cold, "Then follow your elder brother to the Capital Jingcheng for the examinations! See what sort you can find outside!"

With these words spoken, not only Pei Wenlee but Lady Chen was swayed as well. Staying at home wouldn’t yield any better prospects, and they would still be exploited by the second branch of the family. It might be better to go to Jingcheng. There would certainly be more and better families there, and perhaps she could marry into one in the capital.

Pei Wenli was very unwilling to take her along, as having her come would be too much of a nuisance. Yet, unable to refuse Pei Wenlee’s pleading and Lady Chen’s request, he took Pei Wenlee with him to Jingcheng.

Seeing that she really went with Pei Wenli to the capital, Qian Wanxiu snorted coldly. She wrote back home, instructing them to choose a beautiful maid to send to Jiang Benxin.

They found two pretty maids for her to choose from, and she was to pick one she liked to send over. novelbuddy.cσ๓

Qian Wanxiu spoke to both of them and chose the delicate and pitiful one to send while returning the other, who was charming and seductive.

Pei Zongli looked at the maid and said, "Let’s keep her for two more days! If the first one doesn’t work out, then we can send this one too for extra assurance!"

Qian Wanxiu agreed but couldn’t help frowning at the way he glanced at the maid. She instructed Mother Qian to take the two maids down for training without forbidding them from coming upstairs.

While the maids had been found, Qian Wanxiu couldn’t find the opportunity to send them over.

Jiang Benxin was very busy. Although this wasn’t the first spring examination he handled, it was his first in Yuanyang County. Moreover, Pei Qin’s younger brother, who was only twelve years old, was also taking part in the spring examination. It was improbable for all three to pass when they were so young. But he needed to find a way to have at least one of them pass the exam, with the others potentially succeeding next year.

It was crucial to do this subtly and leave no traces, which was far from easy!

Pei Wendong, Chang Yonglin, and Xiao Yong had made full preparations. After the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon raised its head, they packed their belongings and set off early to Yuanyang County, settling down in Mo Heng’s cottage.

On the day of the official examination, the soldiers guarding the entrance thought the three little lads were students’ attendants and wanted to stop them, but they were astonished when they saw the entrance medallions and realized these young boys were actually here to take the imperial exam. "How old are they to be taking part in such an exam? Do they think this is child’s play!?"

The outcome for the three boys also stunned their fellow exam candidates. This disbelief was palpable. "They’re just kids, surely here just for fun! At such a young age, it’s impossible for them to pass!"

Yet, Pei Wendong and his companions took the exam very seriously, especially Pei Wendong. He had bottled up a determination since the beginning of the year to participate in the spring examination and to pass with high honors!

After the government and academy exams were over, they finally met the educational officer.

The officer, upon seeing how young the three of them were, examined their knowledge specifically.

Pei Wendong was nervous at first, but seeing Chang Yonglin without stress and Xiao Yong very composed, he took a deep breath and answered more and more smoothly, even discussing mathematics.

The educational officer noticed his exceptional talent in mathematics and felt joy. After discussing with Jiang Benxin and seeing that Pei Wendong’s papers were indeed well answered, he agreed to let him pass.

Jiang Benxin wondered if Pei Qin and Mo Heng had found a way to even persuade the educational officer but hesitated for a moment. To prevent others from raising objections, he tested Pei Wendong with two additional questions. Seeing his fluent responses, he nodded in agreement to his passing.

Xiao Yong was also approved. Though his academic pursuits were diverse, he had studied from an early age, grew up in Wang Mansion, had broad experiences, and had a different perspective. Despite his young age, his essays carried an air of grandeur, clearly the work of a student of a great master.

Unfortunately, Chang Yonglin failed the exam. He was focused on mathematics and not as driven for the imperial examinations.

However, when the news arrived that Pei Wendong had passed the spring examination, becoming a Scholar at merely twelve years old, it shocked the entire Taiping Town.

Holding the teapot and teacups in the house, Qian Wanxiu dropped them with a clang and a crash, smashing everything.