Chapter 25: Splendor

Wang Zhixiu was quite satisfied with Li Yu’s examination paper, granting it a top-tier rating and naming him the first among the candidates. However, the other examiners preferred Ning Yuan’s paper. After a lengthy discussion, the majority ruled, and ultimately, Ning Yuan was declared the top candidate of the first rank.

By tradition, the one who ranks first is known as the "Anshou." Ning Yuan had achieved the top rank in the county, prefectural, and academy examinations—a feat known as the "Little Triple Crown." Li Yu ultimately placed fifth in the top tier, while Wu Jingcheng placed seventh in the second tier.

Wang Zhixiu seemed particularly fond of Li Yu and offered a word of comfort, fearing he might be disappointed. "As long as you have made the list, your specific ranking is of the least importance. Keep studying hard; I shall wait for you to attend the Qionglin Banquet in the capital."

With that, he departed with a smile. Wu Jingcheng, filled with envy, remarked, "Brother Zixuan, how is it that your luck is always so good? Inspector Wang is a favorite in the Emperor’s eyes; it is said he dares to scold even the Grand Councilor." With such a man’s attention, there was no need to worry about his good brother’s future.

Li Yu replied, "I think your luck is better—you can pass even while sleeping soundly every day. If you studied as hard as you sleep, you might even surpass Ning Sanlang."

Looking at Ning Yuan, who was surrounded by a dense crowd, Li Yu could not fathom why the Inspector favored him so much, though he regretted that he could not see Ning Yuan’s paper.

Wu Jingcheng noticed something else. "Zixuan, even Yu Guang passed the academy examination, ranking thirty-sixth in the second tier. How did it take him three attempts to reach that rank?" It was no wonder the young lady had been reluctant; in this regard alone, he was inferior to Li Yu, his future brother-in-law.

Li Yu smiled slightly, feeling a quiet sense of pride. After all, if he could win the favor of a wealthy beauty, surely he was allowed a moment of satisfaction. "As long as one makes the list, the rank itself is not truly important."

After relaying the Inspector's words, Li Yu prepared to pack his things and return home, with Wu Jingcheng following close behind.

"I don't know if the ranking is important, but I do know our County Magistrate must be grinning from ear to ear. Some counties didn't produce a single scholar, but our county has produced two in one go." It was said that the previous scholar who passed had been rewarded with a hundred strings of cash by the Magistrate, and he wondered if they would receive the same this year.

"Master Xie’s face must be splitting from smiling too," Li Yu laughed, thinking of his teacher, who was endearingly greedy for money. "Master Xie’s tuition fees will surely double." Yet, the teacher deserved it; he had endured countless slaps from the ruler over the past eight years. Had the teacher not been responsible, Li Yu would not have received those lessons, nor would he be where he was today.

When Ning Yuan returned after socializing with everyone, he found that the two had already packed their belongings. "Zixuan, Mengzhen, congratulations," Ning Yuan said, walking toward them with a puzzled look. "The candidates who passed as scholars today will likely be our peers and colleagues in the future. Why aren't you staying to talk to them?" By the time he intended to introduce his future brother-in-law, the two had already vanished.

Li Yu smiled. "It has been half a year since I left home, and I am anxious to return, fearing my parents are worried." What was there to discuss? It was uncertain if they would meet again at the provincial or metropolitan examinations, and even if they did, there was no guarantee they were of the same mind. If destiny intended, they would naturally become friends in time.

Seeing his filial piety, Ning Yuan agreed. "Rest assured, the list has already been sent by express post to the various prefectures. I suspect your parents will receive the news shortly."

After Li Yu nodded, not knowing what else to say, Ning Yuan added thoughtfully, "My father’s birthday is on the sixth of the ninth month. I will send invitations to you, Zixuan... and you, Mengzhen. I invite your whole household to come and drink at my home." Betrothals were not decided in an instant; the two families needed to interact for some time before discussing the marriage gifts.

Although Li Yu had little to say to Ning Yuan, he was eager to interact with his sister, so he bowed and accepted the invitation. "In that case, I shall wait at home for Brother Shuben’s invitation." Seeing that Li Yu seemed fond of his sister, Ning Yuan smiled in delight. Mutual affection was the finest foundation for a marriage in this world.

As Li Yu and Wu Jingcheng approached the county gate from afar, they felt something was amiss. Who would decorate the county gate with red carpets for a celebration?

"Could it be that the Magistrate’s son is getting married? But I haven't heard of an engagement." Even if there were a celebration in the Magistrate’s family, it might not be such a grand spectacle.

Upon drawing closer, they discovered the County Magistrate standing beneath the stone gate with his officials, while the parents of the Wu and Li families were also there, looking expectantly toward them. Even Master Xie stood in the center, and all three groups were indeed beaming with joy.

Zhang Sanniang, Li Yu’s mother, was crying and laughing at the same time, and Li Gang had to soothe her back to prevent her from choking.

"My son!" Seeing him return, Zhang Sanniang rushed forward and embraced him, weeping as she caressed his face. "My son, you have truly brought honor to your mother." The cold words she had endured as a widow remarrying had all been worth it.

Master Wu and his wife also hurried to see their son, while Xie Huan and Li Gang watched the heartwarming scene with smiles.

"Hey, old friend," Xie Huan said, unable to resist raising six fingers to his old comrade. "After this year, I plan to raise the children’s tuition fees by this much." To have taught two scholars at once was a feat unique in the county. Just yesterday, the Magistrate had sent him a plaque inscribed with "Diligent Teacher, Cultivating Talent for the Nation," so he felt justified in raising his fees.

Li Gang replied, speechless, "...And what about my third child’s tuition?" He dared not say it would also rise to six strings of cash, or he might have started a fight right there.

Xie Huan replied magnanimously, "We will tell the public it is the same, but in private, it will remain as it was before. However, you must never let this slip." If it weren't for the necessity of charging tuition, he would have waived it for the Li family’s child altogether.

The group did not go home first, but were instead ushered to the county office. Magistrate Wang, following previous custom, had the yamen runners bring out two hundred strings of cash. Wu Jingcheng and Li Yu each received one hundred.

Magistrate Wang took their hands, held them high, and declared loudly, "As long as I am in office, anyone from this county who passes as a scholar will be rewarded with one hundred strings of cash, two hundred for passing the provincial examination, and five hundred for the metropolitan degree. All of this comes from my own pocket, not a single copper from the county treasury."

In the early years of the dynasty, if one became a scholar, it was impossible to claim a lack of funds to travel for the examinations. Not only would the government provide money, but local gentry would also proactively donate, as few who achieved high office would fail to give back to their hometown.

The county office held a celebratory banquet for the two. The gift money alone reached five hundred strings of cash. With the Magistrate’s contribution, Li Yu personally received three hundred and twenty-one strings. It was said that if one became a provincial graduate in the future, the rewards would be even greater; after the celebration banquet, families usually built grand houses of blue brick and tile immediately.

Li Gang locked the money and the list of gift-givers into a chest, handing the key to Zhang Sanniang. "It is not that I want your money, but you are young and do not yet know how to manage finances. In the future, when you marry and buy a house, these things will be managed by your wife, and the two of you will decide how to spend them." It was not a matter of surrendering everything to the wife, but this was simply how things were done. Before marriage, the mother managed it; after marriage, the wife took over. He only needed to study well and fulfill his duties.

"Talking of marriage already?" Li Ying laughed. "Ever since the news of brother Yu passing the scholar exam returned, our doorstep has been worn down by matchmakers." They were merely fickle opportunists; why hadn't they noticed brother Yu before the county examination? When he had no status, they looked down on him as a burden without land, property, or a father. Now that he had succeeded, they flocked to him. Those people had poor judgment—if a gold bar fell on the ground, they would likely mistake it for dung.