met free Chapter 119 Spring Begins
Chapter 119 Spring Begins
The news that Mrs. Zou, the wife of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, spent 12,000 taels of silver to buy an inkstone spread throughout Shengjing!
"What kind of inkstone costs 10,000 taels? Could it be that Mrs. Zou was cheated?"
"I think she is a spendthrift! She spent 10,000 taels to buy an inkstone, so if she wants to buy a table, it will cost 100,000 taels, right?"
"What do you know! That is the Gaoyuan Inkstone used by Mr. Shen Mo!"
On the day when Zou Jianan took part in the Spring Examination, everyone, whether acquaintances or not, cast their eyes over to him the moment he appeared.
The more reserved ones just watched silently. The straightforward ones walked up directly and asked with a smile: "Excuse me, Brother Zou, did you bring the Gaoyuan inkstone with you today?"
He rubbed his hands excitedly and said impatiently: "We are all good brothers. No matter what, we should open our brothers' eyes!"
Common people only know that the inkstone costing ten thousand taels of silver is exaggerated, but these scholars know that the value of this inkstone is far more than that!
That is Mr. Shen Mo’s inkstone!
Zou Jianan naturally brought it with him. Although he could not bring it into the examination room, for peace of mind, he would hold the teacher's inkstone until the last moment!
"Go away! Is the sir's inkstone used to open the eyes?" Zou Jianan protected the inkstone in his arms as if he were protecting his own cub, and moved forward carefully without even revealing a corner of the box.
His stingy look angered everyone, "Zou Jianan, you are so mean! What's wrong with letting us take a look? Let us get a taste of your Confucian spirit!"
Zou Jianan didn't even turn his head, "What are you talking about? Don't let your vulgarity ruin me!"
This group of bad friends came to block the inkstone during the Spring Examination. What were they thinking? Didn’t they think he didn’t know?
If you have the ability, buy it yourself!
Zou Jianan walked quickly with the inkstone in his arms, and soon left those people behind. His family specially sent four servants to escort him today, because they had anticipated today's scene.
Fortunately, it is better to be prepared.
There were huge crowds of students participating in the Spring Examination, and each of them had come here after breaking through the crowds. Even though Zou Jianan thought he was well prepared, he still felt a little nervous when he saw the huge crowd.
"Sir, you must give me strength!"
He hugged the inkstone tightly, and then reluctantly handed it to the servant at home. He repeatedly warned, "Remember, you can't drop it. After you take it back, let my mother worship it and no one else can touch it!"
These past few days, he has kept this inkstone at home. If he hadn't wanted to be influenced by the Confucian spirit of the teacher, he wouldn't have brought it to the examination room today.
However, I don’t know if it was Zou Jianan’s illusion, but I always felt that when he walked into the examination room after carrying the inkstone all the way, he was more confident than before!
It must be the power of the gentleman that worked!
"Hey, how are you preparing? You can't even fail this idiot, right?" Qin Shaobei watched Zou Jianan go in with amusement, and then he and Pei Ru were waiting for inspection at the back. He really didn't expect that someone would actually believe what his sister made up.
Not only do some people believe it, but they are also very confident about it.
"He doesn't really think that he can pass the exam with this inkstone, right?" Qin Shaobei touched his chin, very surprised.
After all, he is the son of the Minister of Revenue. He can’t be so naive, right?
Pei Rushi didn't even bother to look at him, and said as he walked forward, "It has nothing to do with me."
What others think is unimportant to Pei Rushi. He came to participate in the Spring Examination, and he just needed to prepare himself and take the exam seriously.
As for who will take the exam, how they will do, those are not his concerns.
Qin Shaobei started to chase after him, "Pei Rushi, don't walk so fast! We still have to wait a while, let's chat for a while!"
When preparing for the exam, in order to concentrate, Qin Shaobei locked himself up and didn't see anyone. Now that he finally came out and met someone, with his temper, he even wanted to chat with a passing dog.
But Pei Rushi didn't cooperate at all. After standing in the line, he was very focused and had no desire to chat at all.
Qin Shaobei was persistent and stood beside him, chatting on his own. Seeing that he ignored her, it didn't matter, as long as there was someone next to him.
The chirping sound kept lingering in his ears. Pei Rushi noticed the look of the people around him and began to get impatient. So, when Qin Shaobei kept chattering, he finally spoke:
"If you don't shut up, I'm afraid you won't even be able to pass the test for a fool."
"How can it be?!"
Qin Shaobei jumped up instantly, and after realizing where he was, he calmed down under the contemptuous gazes of the crowd and said in a low voice: "Even if you are jealous of my talent, you can't curse me like this before the exam, right?"
He bumped Pei Rushi's arm and said, "I didn't realize you still have this hand."
Qin Shaobei smiled cunningly, but the way Pei Rushi looked at him was really like he was a fool.
Just as they were about to speak, they heard someone calling them. When they turned around, they saw several women trying to squeeze over.
"Fortunately, we made it in time."
Shen Ruoyan came over with her maids. Because there were too many people, she was still sweating even with the maids protecting her.
"I had calculated the time, but I didn't expect the streets to be blocked today. I took a long detour to get here." Shen Ruoyan said as she asked someone to bring the things over. The examination conditions were demanding, so she prepared everything she could.
"Cousin, Master Pei, these are pastries that can be kept for a long time. They should be enough for the next few days." Shen Ruoyan opened the lid, and the pastries inside could no longer be seen in their original form. "They are all broken into pieces. You can take them in without worry."
During the exam, each person only has a small room where they eat, drink, defecate and urinate, which is an extreme test of one's will.
Although many people are talented, they give up halfway because they cannot stand the hardships of the examination.
Shen Ruoyan had heard of many such cases before, many of which involved young men from wealthy families. Therefore, she had made preparations for the two of them early on.
"And these two bamboo tubes are also filled with water. The well at the examination center is only used a few days a year. Unless it is necessary, it is best to drink the water you bring with you."
Qin Shaobei and Pei Rushi saw that the two bamboo tubes were really bamboo buckets! They were filled to the brim with water, fearing that they would not have enough to drink.
"You are worthy of being my good sister. Don't worry, I will definitely get good grades! Just wait for my good news!" Qin Shaobei took the things and saw that Pei Rushi was standing there motionless. Thinking that he was embarrassed, he took it for him.
Pei Rushi glared at him, then bowed to Shen Ruoyan and thanked her, "Madam, I will repay you for your kindness one day."
Shen Ruoyan was frightened by him and stepped back repeatedly, waving her hands and saying, "Mr. Pei, you are too serious. It's just a token of my appreciation. If you are so serious, it would be my fault."
Qin Shaobei nodded and, behind Pei Rushi, mouthed to Shen Ruoyan: "Pretentious!"
Shen Ruoyan pretended not to see it. Seeing that the time was almost up, he did not dare to delay any longer and said with a smile:
"I hope you two will see each other in the blue sky from now on!"
Pei Rushi's heart was shocked, and he exchanged a glance with Qin Shaobei. The two of them were in tacit understanding at this moment, and they bowed to Shen Ruoyan at the same time:
"Thank you for your advice."