Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times - Chapter 78
Wu Shuangxi thought of sending Xing Niang to make things difficult again and again, was to prevent the child from going to the provincial examination.
But the child was smart and always solved his difficulties. He even gained a reputation as a helpful person among the students who were still taking exams. Wu Shuangxi failed to harm others, but instead made Jing Xingzhi successful.
Wu Shuangxi wouldn’t believe such a result. But it happened to be true. The blame was only on Wu Dinong, who was useless, and on Xing Niang, who was too dull and only knew how to follow the steps. When she met a really smart person, something went wrong.
Because of Jing Xingzhi’s intelligence, Wu Shuangxi couldn’t help but wonder if she could coax him well.
Random excuses would definitely not work, she had to use clever means to convince the other party.
Wu Shuangxi thought and frowned.
Because if she couldn’t win Jing Xingzhi’s heart, besides waiting for a fight with Jing Xingzhi, she would have no choice but to take another very dangerous path – secretly doing something behind Ning Haibo’s back, without any flaws before Ning Haibo returned to the capital, let “others” completely destroy Jing Xingzhi.
Wu Shuangxi hoped the child would still have some expectations for his “mother”, so he would not pluck Ning Haibo’s tiger butt for revenge. Her prosperity and wealth, without her “son” heart, all depended on Ning Haibo.
Although she had the advantage of being a mother, Wu Shuangxi rarely had confidence in herself. She knew that Jing Xingzhi was a ruthless man who could ruthlessly attack his adoptive brother who grew up together, so he probably didn’t care much about blood relationship.
“He really looked like my son,” Wu Shuangxi murmured.
After thinking about it, Wu Shuangxi and Ning Haibo made the same decision. She also sent people to Hanbei Prefecture to deliver several large carts of things, all of which were fresh and fun, including little tiger hats for children, very delicate and cute.
Regardless of whether it was useful or not, just coaxed him first and then talked later.
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While the husband and wife’s respective gifts were still on the way, the grading of the provincial examinations in various places was in the final steps.
In the scoring room of Hanbei Prefecture, eight men wearing dark red official uniforms sat in two rows. All eight of them looked haggard, with bloodshot eyes. However, after drinking countless cups of strong tea, they were in good spirits, but their sleepiness was not relieved.
The middle-aged man in the front position on the left said: “The top articles in each topic have been selected, and the top ten have also been selected. Now let’s select the top three from the top ten!”
The middle-aged man opened his mouth. After speaking, other officials recommended articles that they liked.
Everyone’s tastes were similar, and they were objective and fair. The middle-aged man who led the recommended articles also nodded frequently. Only one article had an accident.
The middle-aged man pushed the article away: “Although this article is good, the format is inappropriate. Moreover, this student’s thinking is immature and has been refuted by several officials in the official newspaper, so he should not be ranked among the top three.”
Official circles were all about human relations. They heard the praises given by the superintendent to a certain student, they would pay attention to the student. As for those students who had been excluded, they naturally also knew the reason. If the students were not well-learned, they would be banned from taking the exam. If their thinking was too poor, of course, they could not be placed too far ahead, lest something happen in the future and cause a big fuss.
Just like that, an article that could have been ranked in the top two or three positions was moved to the fifth position.
After the rankings were listed, a clerk tore open the sealed examination paper and matched the rankings with the names of the candidates.
“The head of the case, first place, Jing Xingzhi.”
“Fourth place, Wu Mingrui.”
“Fifth place: Zheng Juelun.”
“Hey, does this person sound familiar?” A scribe said curiously.
Another official next to him glanced at it and said: “Isn’t this Zheng Juelun, who is known as a master of writing? He is only ranked fifth, how dare he be called ‘unparalleled’ ()? Then doesn’t the number one Jing Xingzhi will ascend to the heaven? Will he make a fuss with the Emperor of Heaven?”
“So that Zheng Juelun is not worthy of his name!”
The two minor officials quickly finished their work and wrote down the rankings in the red newspaper. They went up and waited for the lucky day to announce the ranking and hang it on the big wall of the Gongyuan.
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It was soon the day when the results would be revealed, and the number of people gathered around the Gongyuan was much greater than the number of beautiful girls from the wealthy family’s house who were throwing hydrangeas to attract marriage.
Wu Mingrui was sitting in his yard, circling nervously.
He turned a little dizzy, stretched out his hand to support the book boy Xiao Wen’s arm, and complained in a low voice: “If I had known it, I would have gone back with Xingzhi and sister-in-law, and we wouldn’t have to wait here with so many people!”
Xiao Wen cleverly said: “Madam is in Huanshui, but she is also anxious.”
Xiao Wen thought to himself: ‘People are always suffering everywhere; how could the little vird not go through any kind of suffering?’
Furthermore, this place was close to Gongyuan, so the results of the exam would come out faster, which was a good thing.
Wu Mingrui shook his head and refuted him: “Mom must be worried about whether I am lucky or not. If it’s Jing Xingzhi, he is probably peeling pine nuts at home and feeding it to sister-in-law!”
Wu Mingrui thought, how could such an open-minded person like Jing Xingzhi be worried about passing or not. Also based on his friend’s ability, he would most likely be the first place.
Xiao Wen sighed; how could he forget Young Master Jing? He was busy going home as soon as he finished the exam. He was not worried about his ranking or failure at all. He was also a rare person…