Liu Teacher said, "Okay, I'll have someone go and notify them now."
Liu Teacher then had the exam papers well sealed and went down to rest with several examiners, waiting for the students to arrive.
The Song County Magistrate also went to the academy entrance, waiting to announce the results.
After everyone had left, an agile figure dropped down from the roof, and silently came to the room, going straight for the exam papers.
Li Yao flipped through the six exam papers, quickly browsed through them, and soon saw something wrong.
These people are so shameless.
Not only did they cheat, but they did so unscrupulously. It looks like I'll have to make a scene today.
After making some changes to the exam papers, Li Yao quickly left.
Not long after she left, another furtive figure also entered the room, copied out the six exam papers quickly, and then silently slipped away.
...
The sky was almost dark now. At the academy gate, more than ten bright torches were lit.
The six students taking the re-examination had all arrived, and many onlookers had also come.
There were few xiucai in Baichuan County, not because there were few scholars, but because there were too few spots, only one every two years.
No one knew why, but the education intendant of Yizhou Prefecture had exceptionally given three spots this year, probably because he had heard that there were many talented students this year.
In any case, this was a good thing, and among the crowd of onlookers were those looking for good husbands for their daughters.
Old Master Wu was one of them.
His young daughter was of marriageable age. He had originally wanted to marry her to Li Yao from Hewan Village, but unexpectedly had received no response, which made him very angry.
The Wu family was one of the top five rich families in Baichuan County. Many wanted to marry his young daughter, yet this Li Yao did not appreciate the honor at all.
So he came today to see who could get admitted as a xiucai.
If it was not Wang Er, then he would betroth his daughter to him, and let Li Yao know that the Wu family also had good taste.
"Everyone has arrived," Liu Teacher very naturally took over the role of the chief examiner and announced loudly, "I will now announce the results. The xiucai admitted in this exam are three people: Li Xian!"
Hearing this news, Li Xian was not surprised at all. He stepped forward and bowed.
Some good friends among his fellow students hurriedly came up to congratulate him.
Li Xian had the hope of becoming a juren, so how could they not curry favor with him now?
In the crowd, Old Master Wu's eyes also lit up. He quickly sent his steward forward.
"Congratulations Master Li, congratulations!" The steward said with a smile, "Master Li, your admission as xiucai is well-deserved!"
"You are... "
"I am the steward of Old Master Wu's family."
"Oh, so you are from the Wu family. Pardon my rudeness."
"Master Li," the steward said, "May I ask if you are betrothed yet?"
"Well..." Li Xian replied somewhat shyly, "I am not betrothed yet."
"Haha...that's great," Old Master Wu said in person as soon as he heard this, "My young daughter is of marriageable age. What do you think of becoming my son-in-law, Master Li?"
Li Xian was extremely delighted.
He knew very well how rich this Wu family was.
If he could really marry Old Master Wu's daughter, he would have endless money and never have to worry about not having money to study again.
In the future, when he became a juren and then a jinshi and an official, he would still need a lot of money for support.
It could be said that he and the Wu family were a perfect match.
"I'm honored by Old Master Wu's favor," Li Xian quickly replied, "As for marriage, I'll discuss it with my parents when I get home, and come to propose on an auspicious day."
"Haha...great, great! I'll await your good news."
With such a windfall out of the blue, Li Xian's whole demeanor changed. Standing in the torchlight, his whole person seemed to shine.
With a gentle smile, he glanced at Wang Er and Li Yao, but quickly looked away again.
From now on, he, Li Xian, had already entered the scholar-official class. He was destined to become very rich and noble, no longer the old Li Xian.
So what if his elder sister Li Yao had money?
In the future when he became an official, even if Sister was still rich, she would have to kneel and bow her head when seeing him.
"Haha, Li Xian," Liu Teacher also smiled, "To have you as my student is my good fortune in three lifetimes."
"It's all thanks to Master's teaching, that's why Li Xian has achieved what he has today."
"Mm," Liu Teacher was extremely gratified, "Go rest for now."
Next, Liu Teacher announced the names of the feng sheng candidates who passed.
Zhang Zhan and Hu Ling seemed to have known this result already, and calmly stepped forward to thank him, while also accepting congratulations from fellow students and envious looks from the crowd.
As for Wang Er who did not pass, he felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar.
Was it really because he had studied for too short a time?
"It's alright Wang brother," Song Zhe patted his shoulder, "What does it matter not passing once? Didn't I not pass either? We'll try again in two years!"
Two years?
Wang Er shook his head.
He deeply understood the saying of losing momentum if one doesn't accomplish something in one go.
"My boy," Lv Xiucai said at this time, "Even I'm not discouraged, why are you discouraged? We'll try again in two years and will definitely pass!"
"Haha..."
Lv Xiucai's words immediately provoked loud laughter.
"A xiucai for life, yet you dare say that?"
"It must be because you are his teacher that Wang Er didn't pass!"
"A student of a forever xiucai can only be a forever xiucai."
"Wang Er, I advise you to find another teacher, or you'll miss your chance for life!"
"Stop it, all of you!" Wang Er suddenly shouted loudly, "How can you know the erudition and talent of my teacher?"
"Then why is he still a xiucai after so many years?"
Wang Er was rendered speechless for a moment.
Facts speak louder than words. It was an undeniable fact that Lv Xiucai had taken the exam dozens of times but never passed.
Just as he didn't know how to respond, a voice suddenly said, "That's because someone cheated in the exam."
These words shocked everyone.
Especially Liu Teacher, whose brows were locked in a frown as he looked over to see Li Yao had stepped out from the crowd.
"Mother, you..."
"No need to say more," Li Yao said. "If there is no justice in this world, Mother will uphold justice today! County Magistrate, I, the commoner Li Yao, report that there was cheating in this exam! And the examiners colluded with the examinees to cheat!"
"Audacious shrew!" Liu Teacher was furious and shouted loudly, "You are spouting nonsense without any proof, slandering the examiners! Do you believe I'll ask the County Magistrate to punish you for this crime!"
But Li Yao completely ignored him and went straight to the Song County Magistrate.
"Sir, will you deal with this or not?"