Volume One: A Farmer at Dawn Chapter 66: Sour Sons and Spicy Daughters

The three of them went out to the street to have some fun. When they saw candied hawthorn skewers, Yuexi said, “Xie Shuxian, I want some.” Chuliu quickly bought four sticks.

“There are three of us, so why buy four?” Yuexi asked shyly, “Can’t I eat two?”

Chuliu replied, “The other one is for your mother. Pregnant women love to eat things that are both sour and sweet.”

“How do you know?” Yuexi wondered.

“My mother craved these when she was pregnant with me. They say sour food means a boy and spicy food means a girl. She ate candied hawthorn, and then I was born…”

In truth, Chuliu was making this up; Zheng Mei had never tasted candied hawthorn in her life. He said this only to avoid further questions from Yuexi.

When the three returned, the meal was already ready. After they finished eating, Chu Zhaonan suddenly asked out of curiosity, “Xie Shuxian, you’ve swept the board in the preliminary exams and are in the limelight. Why not seize the momentum and register for this year’s provincial examination?”

Usually, after achieving such success, a young scholar would be full of confidence and eagerly try his hand at the provincial exams, dreaming of becoming a top scorer and making a name for himself. Chu Zhaonan wanted to know why Xie Shuxian had given up on that dream.

Chuliu smiled calmly. “Though I was fortunate enough to win the preliminary three, I know my knowledge has many shortcomings. The provincial exam tests the eight-legged essay, current affairs, and policy argumentation—these are my weak points. Rushing into the exam would only be a waste of time…”

“That’s why I want to spend three years at the state academy, waiting for the next provincial exam. By then, I hope I can shine again…”

Chuliu understood well that, as the son of a farming family who had spent years studying, it was not his efforts alone that allowed him to stand out among so many talented scholars. If he hadn’t met Master Wen, he would never have achieved such results. This was the gap that resources create.

It wasn’t just about the teachers; access to a wealth of books and information channels were all resources. The state academy’s teachers were nearly all degree holders, and the library was extensive. With timely information and abundant resources, he had chosen the state academy for its advantages.

After hearing this, Chu Zhaonan nodded gently, his voice full of praise. “It is rare for someone to come to such an understanding on their own. It shows you have an extraordinary temperament.”

“Once you are at the state academy, your weak points will be addressed by the instructors. Remember, the path of learning lies in perseverance and heartfelt understanding…”

“Thank you, Master Zhao. I will study diligently and strive not to disappoint your high expectations…”

They chatted a while longer, then the two took their leave and returned to the dormitory. A new challenge was about to begin, and both were fully prepared to face it.