Free Web NovelChapter 340: Chapter 136: Lesser Three Firsts (Part 2)
"Congratulations, Young Master! Congratulations, sirs! You’ve passed! All of you have passed! Mr. Zhao Jing of the Zhao Village in Qingshui County has placed first in the Qingshui County academy examination, achieving the Lesser Triple Crown and becoming a Stipendiary Scholar! Mr. Ding Shutian is second, Mr. Huang Chen is third, Mr. Chu Xun is fourth, you, Young Master, are fifth, Mr. Shang Liangchun is sixth, and Mr. Chen De’an is seventh..."
On any other day, Wang Jun would have surely scolded his servant. ’I told you last time to call the others "Young Master" too, or else you make me sound a generation younger than them. And are you a parrot? Your announcement this time was almost identical to the last one. Couldn’t you think of a few different words...?’
But right now, Wang Jun’s heart was bubbling over with wild joy. He felt like he was about to float away, so how could he possibly have the energy to get angry with his servant?
"Really? I... I really passed?"
"You passed! Not only did you pass, Young Master, but all the other sirs passed too! This list of successful candidates is nearly identical to the last one. All of you are now Scholars."
De’an was in a daze. "I’m a Scholar now, just like that? Did I really get this lucky? Sis! Sister! I really became a Scholar! Sister, pinch me, quick! This doesn’t feel real at all."
Chen Wanqing had no time to pinch De’an, because both of her hands were held tightly in Zhao Jing’s.
Zhao Jing, who appeared the calmest and most composed of the group, was far from the cool and collected person he seemed to be on the surface.
Only she knew that Jing’s palms were covered in a fine layer of sweat, and that he was trembling all over with excitement.
But he was still just a seventeen-year-old young man, and he had achieved this only after a long road of arduous study. Anyone else who had achieved such results would probably be shouting their joy to the heavens.
"Jing, snap out of it. You’re a Scholar now. You’ve placed first in three consecutive exams. You’ve really achieved the Lesser Triple Crown."
Zhao Jing came back to his senses and looked directly at Chen Wanqing. "Sister, I’m a Scholar." freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Yes, you’re a Scholar!"
A look of genuine joy slowly bloomed across Zhao Jing’s cool and reserved features. It was like the first thaw of ice and snow, or like the brilliant sun breaking through the clouds, scattering its splendid light across the entire land.
A rare, unrestrained smile of pure delight spread across Zhao Jing’s face. "Sister, I’m a Scholar! I’m really a Scholar!"
As if in response to Zhao Jing’s words, the sound of thundering footsteps—THUMP THUMP THUMP—could be heard from outside. It wasn’t just one person, but a whole group. They swarmed forward and threw open the door to the private room.
"We’ve come to announce good news to the sirs from Qingshui County! Great news for you all! From this day forward, you are all esteemed Scholars..."
The messengers were beaming, their faces filled with genuine cheer.
Announcing good news to the gentlemen from Qingshui County was considered a plum job. Word had long since spread that the young student gentlemen from Qingshui County were inseparable and always spent their time together.
If they came here to announce the news, they could do it for several people at once, and the tips they’d receive would naturally be from several people as well.
Although the other sirs didn’t come from wealthy families, the young master from the Wang Family was fabulously wealthy. ’If we can win his favor, won’t we make a small fortune?’
That was why, as soon as the list was posted, they had quickly memorized the rankings for Qingshui County and rushed over in a great hurry to deliver the good news.
The messengers had all specially washed up today and put on new clothes. Each wore a large red flower pinned to his chest. If they had been dressed in all red, passersby might have mistaken them for bridegrooms.
But even if they weren’t bridegrooms, they were just as happy, because today, every one of them had received a tip that far exceeded their expectations. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Wang Xiao had come prepared. Upon hearing that his younger brother had become a Scholar, he immediately had someone bring out two baskets of copper coins from the private room’s cabinet.
Huang Chen was usually very stingy and always pretended to be poor, but now, his face was flushed red with excitement. He, too, untied his bulging purse and started stuffing handfuls of copper coins into the messengers’ hands.
Chu Xun went even crazier, grabbing copper coins and tossing them out the door.
De’an, caught up in the mood, also pulled out his own private stash of money from his robes.
Everyone was in motion; only Zhao Jing remained seated.
Chen Wanqing quickly handed him a prepared money pouch. "Go on, hand out the tips. It’s a happy day. We don’t need to be stingy with a bit of money."
But Zhao Jing didn’t take it. "It’s not easy for you to earn money, Sister."
"Silver is meant to be spent. Besides, it’s not like we throw silver around every day. This is a joyous occasion, isn’t it? Quick, go join in the fun. Don’t be reluctant to part with a little money. Otherwise, if word gets out that the great Mr. Zhao, the Lesser Triple Crown winner, is a cheapskate, everyone will laugh their heads off."
Zhao Jing chuckled, amused. He reached out with his long, slender fingers and took the pouch. "In that case, it would be rude to refuse."
