Explosive Examination

Zhou Yi glanced at the scholar, a strange look in his eyes. "Fair? Why should it be fair? When the academy selected inner courtyard disciples, what it had always sought was not fairness, but people of great fortune. Those who could pass the academy's examination were all people of great fortune."

Those words left the privileged young man speechless. For a moment, he had nothing to say.

Only after everyone in the room had fallen silent did Zhou Yi speak again. "Now I will announce the selection rules. I have a box here containing six hundred lots. Only thirty-six of them bear numbers. Whoever draws a numbered lot will be considered to have passed the examination."

"If any of you have already obtained the qualification to enter the inner courtyard in advance, you may claim an exemption if you fail to draw a numbered lot," Zhou Yi said.

"May I ask, sir, if those of us who have already received reserved spots draw numbered lots, how will that be handled?" Tu Shan Qing asked.

"It will not be handled in any way," Zhou Yi replied unhurriedly.

"Then can we sell the numbered lots we draw?" Tu Shan Qing asked again.

Zhou Yi looked Tu Shan Qing up and down before answering, "Of course."

At the side, Zhang Chen stared at the large box before Zhou Yi, somewhat dumbfounded. He had thought the selection spots would require layer upon layer of examinations. Who would have thought it would be so simple and crude, decided directly by drawing lots? Whoever drew one got it.

Yet he had to admit that, though this method was simple and crude, it was indeed effective. Whoever could draw a numbered lot was naturally a person of great fortune.

Drawing one of thirty-six numbered lots from among