Volume One: From Peasant to Official Chapter 37: The Results Are Announced

After the county examination concluded, the candidates were granted three days of rest while they awaited the release of the results. Only those who passed the main examination were eligible to sit for the second round, known as the review examination.

Taking advantage of the break, Xie Doumiao hurried home to tend to the fields, while Wen Lancang remained behind to continue instructing his two students, analyzing the types of questions that might appear in the upcoming review.

On the third morning, the results were to be announced. After breakfast, Chu Liu and the others went straight to the examination courtyard to see the list of those who had passed.

A sea of people crowded in front of the courtyard gates, with the foot of the announcement board packed so tightly that it was impossible to squeeze through.

“I passed! I passed!” A middle-aged man fought his way out of the throng, face flushed with excitement, shouting his joy as he walked.

Wen Lancang recognized him as Qin Shiqi, the same man whom Jin Buhuan had scorned before the county exam.

“Congratulations, Brother Qin!” Wen Lancang stepped forward, hoping to inquire whether his own students had made the list.

“So it is the teacher?” Qin Shiqi recognized him as well, and bowed deeply. “Thank you for your kind words the other day. Please accept my gratitude.”

“Brother Qin, your literary talent has earned you this honor. There is no need to thank me,” replied Wen Lancang, returning the bow. “But Brother Qin, do you know whether my two students’ names are on the list?”

Qin Shiqi quickly asked, “Teacher, what are your students’ names?”

“Xie Shuxian and Su Biao,” Wen Lancang replied.

“Let me think for a moment…” Qin Shiqi was momentarily stunned, for when he’d read the list, his focus had been entirely on finding his own name. Upon seeing himself ranked ninety-sixth, he’d rushed out of the crowd, though he did also notice Jin Ruizhe’s name at forty-seventh.

“Teacher, I’m sorry—I didn’t notice just now. Let me go back and check.” Qin Shiqi was about to push his way back through the crowd when a cold snort rang out.

“Hmph, just ninety-sixth place and your tail’s already in the air? Jumping around like you’ve forgotten your own name?”

Everyone turned in unison to see Jin Ruizhe standing with hands behind his back and an expression full of disdain.

From Jin Ruizhe’s demeanor, Chu Liu could tell his results were disappointing; he was not nearly as arrogant as usual.

“How did you perform, Young Master Jin? Didn’t you claim the ‘Little Three Excellences of Qingzhou’ title for yourself?” someone asked.

Qin Shiqi couldn’t suppress himself. “He’s forty-seventh,” he announced.

Laughter erupted all around at that.

Just then, a voice called from below the announcement board, “Xie Shuxian is first! Who is Xie Shuxian?”

“I’m here!” came the reply.

A chorus of gasps and exclamations followed. For someone so young to place first—this was unprecedented in Xuanyan County.

“Son, let’s go,” Jin Buhuan said, pulling his son to leave. But Chu Liu would not let him off so easily and shouted, “Shopkeeper Jin, didn’t you say that if I passed the county examination, you’d twist off your head and use it as a ball? Don’t forget!”

The crowd roared with laughter.

Jin Buhuan’s face turned the color of pig’s liver as he stormed off.

“Make way, everyone—the top scholar is here!” someone shouted, and the crowd parted to open a path.

Inside, Xie Shuxian’s name was indeed displayed at the very top and in the most prominent spot on the board, with Su Biao ranked sixth. Besides his two students, Wen Lancang was concerned about one more person, and his gaze finally settled on a particular name: Yang Shao, eleventh place.

Upon hearing the good news, Su Laibao immediately sent Han Zai to deliver the message to Chu Liu’s family.

In recent days, the entire Xie household had eaten and slept poorly, dreaming every night of the examination—sometimes dreaming of success, sometimes of failure.

When news arrived that Chu Liu had taken first place, every member of the family beamed with joy.

Yet they dared not be careless, for the review examination was still to come.