BXBX NOVEL Chapter 353 - 353: High Scholar
Before dawn the next day, Zhao Cai, Liu Changmin, Ah Lei, and the others went to the tribute courtyard. They saw that under the Dragon and Tiger Wall on the west side of the tribute courtyard, there were already more than ten people occupying the best positions to read the rankings.
A few of them stood not far from the ranking list. Zhao Cai looked at Liu Changming and said, “Uncle, there’s still more than two hours before the rankings are released. Go back to the carriage and rest for a while it’s still early. Ah Lei and I will watch over this place.”
Liu Changming recalled seeing Li Qing up until midnight last night and muttered worriedly, “Could it be that this kid didn’t do well? Also, I wonder how that kid from the Li family did. Laidi is still waiting for me to report the good news!”
“Forget it. I won’t be able to sleep even if I go to sleep. I might as well stay here and keep watch.”
A gray-haired man standing under the Dragon and Tiger Wall took over. “Yes! It’s safer to guard here. To be honest, I came to keep watch last night. I couldn’t sleep at home and fell asleep under the Dragon and Tiger Wall.”
Zhao Cai looked at his dark circles and thought he had been worrying too much. Ah Lei looked at him and asked, “Uncle, have you not slept well for a few days?”
The man said worriedly, “How can I sleep?! This is the third time my brother has taken the exam. If he doesn’t get promoted this time, I won’t be able to support him.”
Another person beside him took over. “So what if he took the exam three times? That scholar of mine took the exam from the age of 30 to 60 and hasn’t passed. After coming back from the entrance of the tribute courtyard, he lay on the bed. He still can’t get up today.”
The people standing there waiting started discussing. Most of them were complaining about how hard it was for the candidates and their families at home. If they didn’t become High Scholars soon, they would go crazy.
Liu Changming couldn’t help but think of Zhou Jia when he heard everyone’s discussion. He thought to himself, “It’s so difficult for others to take the exam, but Young Master Zhou clinched the Top Scorer in one go. It’s really not difficult for him! ”
The sky gradually turned white. Li Fengqi couldn’t wait any longer. He went out and came to the tribute courtyard. He saw that the people waiting outside the tribute courtyard were so crowded that not even Zhao Cai, Liu Changmin, and the others could be seen.
After another hour, the door of the tribute courtyard opened. A team of bailiffs escorted an official out with the list. The crowd automatically made way for the official to post the list.
Everyone looked at the bailiffs and officials who calmly and slowly pasted the rankings on the wall. The entrance of the tribute courtyard was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
After waiting for the officials to post it, people swarmed to the front of the rankings. Ah Lei and Liu Changmin were squeezed to the back. Zhao Cai used a lot of effort to reach the bottom of the rankings. When he looked up, he saw Li Fengqi’s name written below the last place. Zhao Cai shouted, “Aunt, your future son-in-law has clinched the last place.”
“Where’s Ah Qing? (Where’s my young master?)” Liu Changmin and Ah Lei asked anxiously from behind.
Zhao Cai slowly looked over, but he still did not see Li Qing’s name. At this moment, the people beside him squeezed out. Zhao Cai also saw the person in the lead. When he saw the word Li Qing written below the first place, he wave its hand happily and shouted, “Young Master Ah Qing is the first Top Scorer.
Ahaha! My family has two Top Scorers.”
When Liu Changmin heard Zhao Cai’s cheers, tears streamed down his face. “Ah
Mei, Ah Qing clinched first place. Ah Shan, did you see that?”
Someone at the side started discussing. “Look, an orphan like him received first place. It’s already a blessing if my family can be on the list.’
Ah Lei was also overjoyed. “Brother Zhao Cai, come out quickly. We’ll go back and report the good news to Young Master.”
The person watching the rankings behind him looked at Zhao Cai enviously. “Brother, the first and last place belong to your family. How many people from your family are here to take the exam?”
Zhao Cai proudly raised two fingers. “Two, both of them hit the jackpot.” Zhao Cai smiled and squeezed over to Liu Changmin and Ah Lei.
Liu Changmin and Ah Lei pulled Zhao Cai happily. “Brother Zhao Cai, let’s go back and tell Ah Qing the good news. I have to rush back to the village and get his aunt to prepare a big banquet to celebrate for Ah Qing.”
Zhao Cai said excitedly, “I still have to go to the Four Seas Bank to ask the shopkeeper to help me bring a letter to Master and Madam so that they can know this good news as soon as possible.”
“Alright, go to the bank. We’ll go home and tell Ah Qing the good news.” They discussed happily and forgot about Li Fengqi.
Li Fengqi watched from outside for a long time but could not squeeze in. He stood there noisily but could not hear clearly. Thinking about how he had seen Li Qing’s family’s carriage parked outside the Teacher Temple, he felt that he should go there and wait. They should be coming out soon.
Zhao Cai, Liu Changmin, and Ah Lei squeezed outside. Zhao Cai called a carriage to the Four Seas Bank and asked someone to bring the letter. Liu Changmin and Ah Lei hurriedly ran towards the alley where the carriage was parked at the Teacher Temple. Just as they reached the carriage, Li Fengqi lifted the curtain. Seeing their happy expressions, he asked uneasily, “Uncle, how did I do?”
Liu Changmin looked at him and smiled honestly. “You got it. Last place.”
When Li Fengqi heard this, he jumped out of the carriage in ecstasy. He knelt on the ground and looked up at the sky. He shouted, “Father, Mother, did you see that? I got promoted.”
Liu Changmin looked at Li Fengqi and felt a little sad. Sigh! He was a filial child. No matter what, he was Laidi’s fiancé. As long as he was loyal to Laidi, the two of them could live well.
Ah Lei looked at Li Fengqi and thought to himself that it was fortunate that he got on the rankings. Otherwise, how long would Miss Laidi have to wait before she could get married?!
Liu Changmin went forward to help Li Fengqi up. “Fengqi, this is a good thing. Don’t be sad. Let’s go back!”
“Yes, Uncle.” Li Fengqi followed Liu Changmin into the carriage. Ah Lei drove the carriage back. Li Fengqi composed himself and looked at Liu Changmin opposite him. He asked with a smile, “Uncle, how did Ah Qing do?”
Liu Changmin looked at Li Fengqi and smiled proudly. “Hehe! First place. He’s the Top Scorer like his brother-in-law. Hehehe, this child, his hard work was not in vain.”
“Ah Qing got first place. What’s my ranking?” Li Fengqi asked bitterly.
It turned out that he had only heard the first half of the sentence just now! Liu Changmin looked at him and suddenly couldn’t say it. He waited for a moment before saying, “You’re in the last place. You’re already very good compared to the others. Among the family who watched the rankings with me today, one person’s brother took the exam three times. I don’t know if he passed this time. There are still some people who haven’t passed even after their hair and beard turned white.”
Li Fengqi felt that Liu Changmin’s words were very ear-piercing. Could it be that he should take the exam a few more times? If he had a brother-in-law like Top Scorer Zhou, the first place would be in his pocket.
Liu Changmin looked at Li Fengqi’s changing expression and patted him comfortingly. “Fengqi, what’s wrong?”
“Oh! I’m fine. I’m just too happy and haven’t recovered yet.” Li Fengqi looked at Liu Changmin and revealed a smile that was uglier than crying.
When Liu Changmin heard his insincere words, he glanced at him and thought to himself that Li Fengqi must have felt that he was too inferior to Ah Qing. Didn’t he consider that he wouldn’t even be in the last place if Ah Qing didn’t show him Young Master’s notes,? Yet he was not satisfied! It seemed that he would have to be careful of this person..