Weren't You a Cripple?

The person next to me suddenly sniffed and exclaimed, "What's that smell? It smells so good!"

Zhou Wanwan sniffed it, coughed, and thought, "Uncle Scholar Tree really spoils her; he lit ambergris for her."

In the capital, one tael of ambergris would cost 120 taels of silver.

The exam papers were quickly distributed. Zhou Wanwan glanced at the exam questions for the preliminary examination and smiled to herself.

These questions were far too easy for her; they were all things she knew by heart and could write down as soon as she picked up a pen.

She picked up her brush, slowly dipped it in the inkstone, and was about to write on the paper when her eyes suddenly tightened.

Not far away, a figure appeared on the courtyard wall, seemingly out of nowhere.

The figure crouched on the wall, moving with extreme lightness, holding a sturdy bow in its hand, a long arrow already nocked and steadily aimed in her direction.

As soon as Zhou Wanwan looked up, she saw the arrow flying towards her. Fortunately, the Old Scholar Tree was very fast and blocked the arrow with its roots.

Seeing that he had hit the target, the man jumped off the wall. Zhou Wanwan whispered, "Uncle Scholar Tree, follow him and see where he goes."

The Old Scholar Tree nodded and said, "I know, don't worry about the exam. I'll have our Old Ancestor come and watch over you."

Zhou Wanwan continued to answer the questions with her head down, while the Old Scholar Tree followed behind the man, who soon entered the Lu Family.

He walked to the Lu Family study and said, "Young Master, the person is already dead."

Lu Xiao sneered and said, "Well done, go and collect your reward!"

The Old Scholar Tree squinted and said, "The Lu Family, hmph! Just you wait!"

The Old Scholar Tree returned to the examination hall, and Zhou Wanwan answered the questions diligently. The preliminary examination for the young scholars was for the title of Xiucai (a scholar who had passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

There are three levels of examinations: county, prefecture, and court. Each level is held once a day, and you can go home after the exam.

As long as the essay is well-written and the questions are answered correctly, you can pass the exam.

First, you take the county-level exam, which usually takes five days.

After finishing her exam, Zhou Wanwan checked her work and was extremely satisfied with the handwriting on her exam paper.

After she came to ancient times, she practiced calligraphy for half an hour every day, so her calligraphy is very beautiful.

She especially loves small regular script, so she practices it regularly. But actually, she knows many different styles of calligraphy, including small regular script, regular script, running script, clerical script, cursive script, and the slender gold script...

After finishing her exam today, she tidied up her test papers and looked at the Old Scholar Tree, asking, "Uncle Scholar Tree, have you found out?"

The Old Scholar Tree sneered, "It was Brother Lu Lan who did it. Should we kill him?"

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said:

"No, no, no, killing is just too bloody."

Besides, he's practically worthless. I'll deal with him tonight.

In the evening, they were all allowed to go home. Zhou Fusheng waited for Zhou Wanwan at the door and said, "Wanwan, how did you do on the exam? I thought it was really easy; those were just the questions I had memorized."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and nodded, saying, "Dad, you're the best! You can definitely do it this time."

Zhou Fusheng hugged her and said:

What if your dad accidentally passed the imperial examination and became a scholar?

Then we can really slap the faces of the Zhou Family Village, hahaha...

A few passersby couldn't help but mock, "At his age, still taking the imperial examinations! Do you think he can pass?"

"Isn't this Zhou Fusheng from Zhou Family Village? I know him. He was driven out of Zhou Family Village."

They said they went to the mountains to farm, so how did they end up here?

"Hey! It's him! I heard he's having a really tough time lately, I didn't expect him to be here on a scientific expedition."

Everyone chimed in, and Zhou Fusheng blushed. Someone said:

Zhou Fusheng! Do you still remember me?

You climbed onto the roof before and then fell down; that was the roof they were repairing for my house!

Weren't you a cripple? Your leg's all healed now?

Why aren't you farming in the mountains? What are you doing bringing your child to the exam hall? Aren't you ashamed?"

Zhou Qingyan frowned and said, "We're participating in the imperial examination with dignity and integrity. What's so shameful about it?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at the fat man and said:

"So my dad fell while repairing your roof, then how come your family didn't pay a single penny in compensation?"

Are you extremely poor? Can't afford to pay for it?

The fat man laughed loudly:

Why don't you just say your dad's stupid? He managed to cripple his leg while fixing a roof!

You still want to rely on my family? Dream on! You're just a family of lowly commoners who think they can turn their lives around through scientific research.

I'd like to see how you plan to turn your lives around through scientific research.

People around him were all pointing and whispering. Zhou Fusheng, who had been quite confident, became dejected after hearing what they said.

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Fatty, where do you live? You're not some lowly commoner, are you?"

The fat man snorted coldly, his chin held high, his face full of arrogance:

"I'm naturally different from you peasants! I don't change my name or surname, my name is Qian Jinbao!"

My father became a wealthy man through a legitimate donation of a large sum of money; half the county has to give my family face!

He looked around at the people with envious eyes and continued to boast:

"My family's residence spans seven or eight courtyards, with over a hundred rooms, complete with pavilions, terraces, gardens, and waterside pavilions!"

The household had countless maids, old women, farmhands, and guards; when they went out, they were always surrounded by servants; they ate delicacies from land and sea and wore fine silks and satins!

He owns thousands of acres of fertile land, more than a dozen shops, and more silver than he can ever spend!

"I'm the only son in my family, a true young master of the Qian family. How could you poor bastards compare to me?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Qian Jinbao! Okay, I understand."

Cheng Chao, standing next to him, twitched his lips repeatedly. He'd seen stupid people before, but never anyone this stupid. This guy was practically ready to spill all his family's assets!

This person thinks they have too much money!

Lu Xiao, on the other side, looked at Zhou Wanwan and took two steps back in fright. Zhou Wanwan smiled at him and said, "Young Master Lu, you seem very afraid of me. Have you done something wrong?"

Lu Xiao coughed and said, "What have I done wrong? I just suddenly thought of something."

Lu Xiao's face was pale, because he had hired a top-tier assassin, whose most powerful skill was the Divine Bow.

Even so, Zhou Wanwan didn't die.

When Zhou Wanwan got home, she saw Liu Su'e standing at the door and said, "You're back? Go wash your hands and eat! I made your favorite dishes today: sweet and sour fish, braised shrimp, and chicken stew with mushrooms."

Zhou Wanwan nodded, while Liu Su'e stood beside her, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said:

"Mom, what do you want to ask me? Do you want to know how my exam went?"

This exam wasn't difficult for me.

Zhou Fusheng, standing to the side, said, "I think the questions on this exam were too easy. Don't you guys think they were too easy too?"

Gu Sinian nodded and said, "Uncle, I do think it's quite simple too."

Zhou Qingyan nodded and said, "It's alright."

Zhou Qingchen and Zhou Qinghe both felt it wasn't difficult, but Zhou Fusheng sighed and said, "It's a pity they all look down on me..."