Chapter 843: An Unexpected Delight

Xu Zhao Ming has a stubbornness of not turning back until he hits the wall, and although he knows he lost, he still asks Gu Jin’an, "I was born into a wealthy family and haven’t done farm work since childhood. If my ranking in this county examination is lower than yours, I must have lost in the first round about agricultural discourse. I would like to ask, what did you write in your agricultural discourse?"

Gu Jin’an straightforwardly shared the essays he wrote for the first round of the county examination.

Not only Xu Zhao Ming, but other students present were also surprised.

The Young Master of the Landlord Lin’s family asked, "The essay question was about agriculture, isn’t it supposed to be about farming? Why did you write about grain?"

Gu Jin’an smiled and asked, "What is the purpose of farming? Isn’t it about grain? Although my essays didn’t write about how to improve water conservation or facilitate farming, they discussed the fundamentals of farming. In whatever endeavor, the result is most important, and a beneficial result can benefit the country and its people."

Old Master Xu was shocked after hearing these words, sighing inwardly that this Gu Jin’an is indeed remarkable, his insight is sharp, already seeing the essence of farming. And this time, the essays were about how to turn crops that seem inedible into food treatable as preserves for the public.

Just this essay alone made Gu Jin’an the undisputed top scorer of the county examination.

Old Master Xu was convinced, and Xu Zhao Ming was too, but being a proud child who grew up praised by others, he found it hard to humble himself in front of Gu Jin’an.

Old Master Xu knew his grandson couldn’t bring himself to save face, so he hit him with a cane, "Today you lost twice, Good Brother An doesn’t mind, you should at least thank him."

Xu Zhao Ming had no choice but to toughen up and come over, bowing to Gu Jin’an, "I thank Brother Gu."

He spoke with his head down, not daring to look at Gu Jin’an, as it was too embarrassing.

Gu Jin’an didn’t want to have another enemy, so he returned the salute, "Brother Xu, you’re too kind."

Brother Cheng took advantage of his family’s preoccupation, munching on a piece of lotus root crystal cake, watching them from the side.

Old Master Xu, trying to ease the scene, looked at him with kindness and said, "You must be Brother Cheng, indeed a very handsome young man. I hear you’ve recently been studying under a Great Scholar from Jiangnan..."

Saying this, Old Master Xu paused, right, a Great Scholar from Jiangnan, must maintain good relations with the Gu Family, and let Brother Ming audit the lectures of the Great Scholar.

Thinking thus, Old Master Xu felt even more amiable, walked over, hugged Brother Cheng, praising, "What a good child, surely promising. You two brothers look alike, if Brother Cheng were older, standing together, you’d look like twins, truly blessed."

Brother Cheng, hugged tightly by Old Master Xu, had his little face squeezed flat, dared not to struggle for fear of hurting the old man, sought help with pleading eyes looking at his big brother: woo woo woo, brother save me, I’m almost suffocating.

Gu Jin’an laughed, didn’t help Brother Cheng, but said to Old Master Xu, "Please do not praise him, he’s rather mischievous, if not watched, he brings some trouble at home."

Old Master Xu, happy that Gu Jin’an spoke to him, praised even more eagerly.

Xu Zhao Ming, red-faced, couldn’t bear to stay, tugged at Old Master Xu, "Grandfather, rankings are out, let’s go home."

Old Master Xu said, "Go back, why go back? We haven’t had the banquet yet, sit down quickly, feast, celebrate your achievement."

Old Master Xu lived a lifetime knowing one must be able to adapt. But not Xu Zhao Ming, so proud, suffered two heavy blows in one day, could barely apologize to Gu Jin’an, no face to sit down for a meal.

Seeing Old Master Xu unwilling to go, Xu Zhao Ming turned and left.

Old Master Xu, angry, scolded, "You brat, come back here!"

But Xu Zhao Ming didn’t turn back and went downstairs.

Old Master Xu could only apologize to Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, don’t mind him, he was spoiled by the family since childhood, doesn’t quite understand social etiquette. You’re of the same level, in the future, you’ll represent our Tianfu County in the prefecture and college examinations, bear with him."

Gu Jin’an said, "I wouldn’t dare, but we as people from the same county, are natural compatriots outside the region, will certainly look out for each other."

Old Master Xu heard this, looking at Gu Jin’an, wishing this were his grandson, look at this young man, how magnanimous, unlike Brother Ming, petty and unable to face adversity.

Sigh, must teach him at home.

Turned to Qi Kangming, this young man’s name also had "Ming," yet was opposite of Brother Ming, also adaptable.

Old Master Xu, slightly disheartened, initially thought his grandson was the county’s best, now sees more and more how he falls short in comparison.

After sighing, Old Master Xu instructed the servant, "Bring the reward silver, for the messengers of good news."

The porter was waiting to receive the reward, nodded and bowed when spoken to, holding out his hands.

The Xu Family servant hurriedly took a silver bag, took out a tael of silver, handed it to the porter.

Porter happily found reporting good news quite lucrative, just won a tael of silver running one trip, worth two months’ wage, "Thank you, Old Master Xu, thank you, Old Master Xu."

The Xu Family servant then took out ten taels of silver, handed them to the government officials who came with the report.

Constable Xiao Yang and the three others accepted, but Luo Wu did not accept, lacking no silver, moreover, the Xu Family did bully Good Brother An, how could he take Xu Family’s silver?

Luo Wu looked to the nervous Gu Dexing, said, "Brother Xing, you passed, ranked fifth in the county examination."

Then to Young Master Qu, "You’re fourth in the county examination."

Young Master Qu was taught personally by his uncle, achieving in the county examination wasn’t unexpected.

Gu Dexing was astonished, "...Fifth, really?"

He heard the messengers only announced the top three, thought he didn’t make it, didn’t expect to rank fifth.

Luo Wu nodded, "Yes, indeed fifth."

Gu Dexing was joyful, felt as if narrowly escaping a disaster... If not passed, his second aunt would beat him crippled, now he needn’t fear going home.

However, happiness wasn’t over.

Luo Wu then turned to Gu Qingtian and Gu Qingliang, "You both passed too, ranked fifty and forty-nine respectively."

County examination only took fifty, all beyond fifty flunked.

The two cousins, Gu Qingliang and Gu Qingtian were stunned, pointed at themselves, "We, we also passed?!"

Luo Wu smiled, "Yes, indeed you passed."

Their achievement was also influenced by Gu Jin’an.

Gu Jin’an’s ideas on essay topics were quite innovative, they studied with Gu Jin’an for three years, naturally benefited greatly.

And County Magistrate Zheng valued agricultural affairs, their essays were practical, carried the style of Gu Jin’an, County Magistrate Zheng quite satisfied, rated their essays high.

Gu Qingliang and Gu Qingtian never expected to pass the county examination, truly cheerful to the core, this is truly unexpected joy.