Chapter 119 [He Sui vs. Wen Huai] "So many students, and you..."

Chapter 21 [He Sui vs. Wen Huai] "So many students, and you..."

With less than three months left until the exam, the teacher suggested that Wenhuai study at the private school during this time. When there were three days left before the exam, she would personally take Wenhuai to the capital and make arrangements for her exam.

The teacher had experience in the imperial examinations, and with her guiding Wenhuai, Zhuang's father was finally at ease. The family had always been poor, and it was thanks to the teacher's tuition waiver that Wenhuai was able to continue his studies. In Zhuang's father's eyes, the teacher was a great benefactor to the Zhuang family.

In the final moments, Wenhuai became even more diligent, daring not to slack off in the slightest. After ten years of hard study, only by winning the top score in the high school entrance examination could he repay his father's kindness in raising him and his teacher's guidance.

Only when she becomes successful can she stop her father and brother from suffering so much.

The teacher was very pleased to see how hard she worked. Wenhuai was the most talented student she had ever taught. If she had a different background, she might have already shown her talent and easily obtained everything she wanted. Unfortunately, she came from a poor family and could only rely on her own hard work to get what she wanted.

As late as Wen Huai finished reading, the teacher would stay up with her until that same time. This was one of the teacher's obsessions. She had left the officialdom, but she wanted to see her student enter the officialdom and change the corrupt atmosphere.

Seeing that Wenhuai had closed her book, the teacher asked her, "Wenhuai, have you finished reviewing all your books?"

Wen Huai nodded: "Sir, I've finished reviewing everything and even taken notes."

Wen Huai's handwriting is very beautiful. Even when she went to study, a calligraphy master happened to see her handwriting and was full of praise. He thought that only a young lady from a noble family could have such a magnificent and vigorous handwriting. He never expected that little Wen Huai would have such a skill.

She will be fourteen after the exam.

She is probably the youngest among the students taking the exam this year, but she is under a lot of pressure.

Seeing her neat and thick notebook, the man asked her to sit next to him.

"Wenhuai, have you thought about what your plans would be if you were fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination?" The teacher looked at her youthful face. "Do you want to marry a man of noble birth to help you rise to the top, or do you want to request a posting to a distant place to hone your skills and advance your career?"

These are two completely different paths. The former relies on nepotism to avoid detours, while the latter is about staying true to oneself and striving for everything.

While there is a limited number of places available for high school students, there are many young ladies from prestigious families who, through their family connections, can effortlessly obtain positions that many people would never dream of in their entire lives. This may be cruel, but it is the reality.

Most students from poor families could only rely on being sent to remote areas and enduring years of hardship to get a chance to turn their lives around. Of course, there were a few exceptionally talented individuals who were valued by His Majesty and kept by his side.

Wen Huai blinked his clear eyes. "Sir, I want to stay in the capital."

The man lowered his head and listened quietly as she continued.

"But I don't want to marry a man from a prestigious family." She is still young, and even if the marriage is arranged, it will be two years before they can get married. By then, even if someone tries to win her over, she will probably politely refuse, since she already has someone she loves.

“It’s not only by marrying a noble husband and relying on a man’s connections that one can stay in the capital. Sir, I want to rely on myself, on my own ability to secure a good marriage and bring honor to my family, and have enough confidence to establish myself in the capital.”

She is a woman, and women should stand tall and upright, facing the road ahead without any fear.

The man then asked, "Even so, would you suffer even more than you are now?"

In fact, if Wen Huai had chosen the former path and risen through nepotism, she wouldn't have felt any resentment. After all, she herself had experienced that kind of pain and only realized in the end that no matter what one relied on, only by holding power in one's own hands could one truly achieve the hard truth.

Even a scholar with patriotic aspirations cannot do anything if he has no power.

“Sir, perhaps in your eyes I have suffered enough, but I don’t think that counts as suffering.” Wen Huai smiled. “I still have my father, my brother, and you, sir. I have received so much. The fact that I can still take the exam is an extra blessing for me.”

Wen Huai lowered his gaze, stroking the pages of the book in his hand, and said softly, "No matter how bitter it is, you can get through it by gritting your teeth."

She looked up at her husband, her expression one of unwavering determination.

As if she had thought of something, the lady shook her head and sighed several times. She patted Wenhuai's shoulder and said, "Get some rest early today. Say goodbye to your father properly tomorrow morning, and then I will take you to the capital."

After so many years of waiting, Zhuang's father finally got to send his daughter to the exam. He wiped away his tears and handed a basket of eggs to Wenhuai. "These are the eggs our hens have laid recently. Studying is very mentally taxing, so you'd better make sure you eat well these next few days."

Wen Huai subconsciously declined, saying, "Father, I can't eat that much. The examination hall will provide three meals a day, and I can't bring these in anyway."

My father hasn't fully recovered yet, so these eggs are the best thing for him to eat.

“Isn’t there still a teacher here? If there are any left, and your brother happens to be in the capital, you can send them to him.” No matter what, Zhuang’s father insisted that Wenhuai accept the eggs.

As the family's circumstances gradually improved, they raised several more hens. However, his daughter, who had been used to hardship over the years, would never eat the good food herself, but would always save it for him, a man who was practically on his deathbed. Her obedient and sensible nature made him, as her father, feel even more heartache and guilt.

Zhuang's father wept as he saw Wen Huai off.

The teacher rented a carriage and asked Huai that she no longer needed to walk to the capital. She sat in the carriage with a basket of eggs in her arms, listening to her father's farewell behind her. Her heart ached, and she secretly vowed to get good grades so as not to let her father down.

The gentleman had some old friends in the capital and had already arranged for them to stay at an inn.

For the next three days, Wen Huai only needed to visit the exam venue, review the material a few more times, and wait for the exam day.

However, during this period, some scions of aristocratic families began to cultivate connections. The emperor appointed Su Yawan, who came from a humble background, as the chief examiner, in order to prevent favoritism and corruption. The Kokoz was a matter of great importance, and no mistakes or shortcuts were allowed.

Xin Yan heard that Wen Huai had come to the capital to take the exam, so she took leave to come see her.

Wen Huai has grown quite a bit taller than before, almost the size of an adult woman, but her face still has a touch of childishness, making her look a bit younger.

The gentleman didn't like to eat eggs, so Wenhuai gave all the eggs he brought to Xinyan. Her brother used to be a very fair and chubby person, but when they met this time, Wenhuai felt that he had lost a lot of weight and even showed signs of having a thinner face.

Xin Yan replied, "You don't understand. It's not that I'm not eating well; I'm deliberately trying to lose weight."

Xin Yan is getting older. If it weren't for his family's poverty and the fact that he had to raise his younger sister and take care of his father, he would probably have been married long ago. Now that good days are coming, he has developed feelings for that kind of person. Although he hasn't met anyone he likes yet, it's always better for a man to be slender. If he has a lump of fat around his waist, his future wife will laugh at him.

When asked why he was trying to lose weight, Xin Yan refused to tell her, not wanting his sister to know his secret thoughts.

On the first day of the exam, there were many people outside the examination hall who came to see her off. The teacher and Xinyan dropped Wenhuai off at the street corner. The line of people stretched from one end of the street to the other, and the carriage could not easily go in, so they simply said goodbye there.

Compared to some students with graying temples, Wen Huai was the most eye-catching one in the crowd.

He Sui also came today, but it was his father who sent him.

Although he had long planned to stay and protect the He family business for the rest of his life, his parents still hoped that he could find a good wife. Even if she didn't become a son-in-law of the He family, they would marry their son off as long as she treated him well. They would agree to any request.

He Sui felt that his parents were a bit obsessed. Perhaps it was because they saw that other families had granddaughters that they were urging him to have one again.

"Go to the examination hall today and see if you find anyone you like. After the exam, whether you pass or not, whether you bring one or two back, you can arrange the marriage immediately. This way, we won't have to worry about it anymore."

That's what his father said to him.

He Sui couldn't help but feel a little absurd. How could marriage be so hasty? It was as if they were afraid he wouldn't be able to get married.

It's clear he doesn't want to get married.

He got off the carriage to get some fresh air. The students on their way to the examination hall assumed he was a family member seeing someone off, and since he was wearing a veil, few people paid him much attention.

Scholars were highly respected, and even those who had failed the imperial examinations for many years still maintained a certain dignity. He Sui looked at these students, and they all entered the examination hall with the hope of passing the exam.

Do his parents want him to try his hand at finding a son-in-law after passing the imperial examination?

"Young Master He!" Wen Huai saw He Sui and hurriedly ran to his side. She was carrying a book box and her face was flushed. With so many people around, she felt like she couldn't breathe.

But she was very happy to see He Sui.

He Sui suddenly remembered that Wen Huai was also here to take the exam.

He lifted his veil and smiled at Wen Huai: "Miss Wen Huai."

Since their parting at the Jiang residence, the two had not seen each other for some time. He Sui noticed that Wen Huai had grown quite a bit taller. In the past, he had to bend down slightly to talk to her, but now he no longer needed to.

Wen Huai was so excited that she couldn't speak. To see He Sui here, at this time, she couldn't contain her joy. She desperately wanted to say something, but she could only stare blankly at He Sui, not wanting to look away for even a moment.

He Sui didn't mind her rudeness and wanted to pat Wen Huai's head like he would a little girl, but then realized she was all grown up and that it was improper to do so.

But Wen Huai's eyes were so clear, He Sui still patted her head gently, just like he would a younger sister, and said in a gentle voice, "The entry is almost over, Miss Wen Huai, please go in quickly."

Wen Huai finally realized what was happening. She gripped the book box tightly and nodded vigorously.

He Sui watched Wen Huai enter the examination hall until he could no longer see him before leaving with his personal attendant.

Back in the carriage, the servant noticed that He Sui was still lifting the curtain to look at the scene outside the examination hall, so he asked, "Does the young master think that Miss Huai will pass the exam?"

He Sui lowered the curtain and smiled faintly, "I can't say for sure about such things, but I hope she can pass the high school entrance exam."

He Sui ordered the coachman to return to the manor. The servant stared wide-eyed and said, "But young master, you haven't completed what your master instructed you to do yet! So many students, didn't you find one you liked?"

The servant had already spotted several good-looking but plainly dressed students, but the young master paid them no attention at all, focusing only on talking to Miss Wenhuai.

He Sui closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Let's talk about it after the results are released."

Now all we can do is wait it out. Once his parents' temper passes, they won't pressure him to get married anymore.

However, when the results were announced, he still had to come and see for himself, then pretend to have returned empty-handed, so that his parents would have nothing to say.

The exam lasted for three days, and the students lived and ate there. After the exam, all the exam papers were covered with their names and handed over to the examiners.

Su Yawan, who was in charge of this year's imperial examination, naturally wouldn't give those who intended to cheat or commit fraud any chance. Without seeing the names, it was impossible to determine who wrote the papers, and even if someone wanted to communicate with others, there was no time to do so.

Each exam paper is given a maximum of 15 minutes to be graded, and if the candidate makes a mark on it or makes a lot of spelling mistakes, it will be handed over to Su Yawan to grade personally.

In the end, it wasn't just these things that passed through Suyavan's hands.

One exam paper was exceptionally well-written and beautifully presented. Every point it listed was ingenious, making it the best among this year's students. When all the exam papers had been graded and the names were revealed for entry, Su Yawan finally saw the name of the student who had written such brilliant words.

Zhuang asked Huai.

She couldn't help but nod, a look of appreciation in her eyes.

The fact that a candidate whose name had never been heard of before could produce such an essay surprised even the officials who were involved in grading it. Upon learning Zhuang Wenhuai's age, they were all astonished.

Is this something a fourteen-year-old girl could write?

However, the exam papers were covered with names, making it impossible to tamper with them—something the officials knew all too well.

After discussion, Su Yawan addressed the officials, saying, "All things considered, this candidate named Zhuang Wenhuai should be ranked first. Do any of you have other opinions?"

An official then said, “Although we are all very pleased that Fengman has such a talented person, this candidate is only fourteen years old. If he becomes too prominent at this time, it may affect the palace examination.”

Someone else suggested, "The second-place candidate, Li, has been taking the exam for thirty years, and his hair has turned white. He only made it onto the list this year. We think that if Li were to be ranked first, no one would object."

Suyawan also thought this method was feasible.

Zhuang Wenhuai is still too young. If she is chosen as the top scholar, it will inevitably arouse some people's doubts, which is not a good thing for her. It would be better to rely on her real skills and let the imperial examination prove her worth. At that time, His Majesty's words will be law, and no one will dare to say anything.

Su Yawan decided, "Then let's release the results."