Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 252 - 88: Release of the Ranking

The accounting room was all trained by Gu Chengyu, using methods from the previous life for bookkeeping, but without using Arabic numerals, so it looked a bit more complicated than in the past life.

Gu Chengyu carefully reviewed the expenditures and income for about half an hour and felt it was quite accurate with minimal errors.

"The accounting ledger is done very thoroughly. Go and tell the two shopkeepers that as long as they do well, their monthly salary won’t be compromised, and there’ll be a bonus at the end of the year. But if they try to exploit gaps, don’t blame me for being rude." As for Manager Niu, he thought a bit of intimidation was necessary, especially since there was no indenture in his possession, and he could not be completely trusted.

"Additionally, give the two accountants an extra tael of silver for their monthly salary." His accountants were all bought by him, and with an increased salary, they would work more loyally.

"Yes!" Ming Yan accepted the task and left.

The next day, this time the release of results was crucial for the students’ entry into officialdom. After this provincial exam, they would become scholars, making them people of merit, so the candidates got up earlier.

He Shunian was waiting in the hall early in the morning, and as soon as he saw Gu Chengyu and the others coming downstairs, he immediately pulled them toward the results posting area.

Among the group, Gu Chengyu was the least worried. With the Holy Decree’s protection, passing the provincial exam was a certainty, and he might even become the top student. Although praised by the Holy Emperor, if the writing was truly unworthy, he could only come in second. After all, the answer sheets had to be posted, didn’t the first place need to be convincing?

There were many students at the posting area, with over two hundred people attending the second re-examination, and with the candidates’ families added, there were quite a few people. Only forty people would be admitted, which made the acceptance rate very low.

"It’s no use being anxious right now, better wait here!" Gu Chengyu held back He Shunian, who wanted to push forward, since it wasn’t time for the results yet, and the crowd was already full at the front. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

But when the constables came to post the results, these people would still have to be pushed aside by the constables, so it was better to wait in place! Ming Mo’s skills were good, and he could manage to squeeze in.

"Chengyu! Let him be, he’s just anxious." Sun Xian was also very nervous at this moment. From the start of the exam until now, ten exams had been taken, who wouldn’t be tense?

"Hey? Do you think he’ll be the top student this time?" one of the candidates glanced at Gu Chengyu and the others standing by a tree, nudged the candidate next to him, and asked.

"Who knows? Being good at policy questions doesn’t mean he’s good at mathematics, right? Besides, this time the poems were really difficult, I couldn’t even find the sources, would he know at such a young age? I bet he won’t make it! Even if he gets the second just relying on the Holy Decree, that’s enough!" that candidate didn’t believe Gu Chengyu would get everything right.

"Ha! You must be candidates retaking the exam, aren’t you?" A candidate standing nearby interjected, glancing at the two candidates.

"How do you know?" The candidate was very puzzled, did they have words carved on their faces? And just what was this tone? Did he look down on them?

"Because all the candidates this year know Gu Chengyu’s name, his poetry has spread throughout the prefecture, and it’s even included in poetry collections! They sell his poetry at the bookstores. How can you say his poetry isn’t good?"

Gu Chengyu, with good hearing, overheard them talking about him and felt a bit helpless. Being famous wasn’t always good; wherever he went, he became the focus, and others would always talk about him.

"We’ve heard his poetry is good, but would he know the sources? How many books had he read? At this age, did he start reading from the womb?" A candidate snorted; most of them started learning at five to eight years old, reading for nearly twenty years to pass the provincial exam, and that was considered talent.

Several other candidates immediately chimed in.

Gu Chengyu, hearing this, touched his nose. Wasn’t that true—starting from the womb? Even earlier than that!

Ye Zhiqiu, at his side, curled his lips. Didn’t these people know that there’s always someone better out there? Was Gu Chengyu an ordinary person?

"You say young age means less reading? I think it’s your lack of insight! Look at those with him—aren’t they also young? Yet they passed the provincial exam too!" The later interjecting candidate threw one last sentence before squeezing elsewhere. Truly, how ignorant!

It’s often said that birds of a feather flock together. If he stayed with these two candidates longer, he might have become dumb himself.

"In my opinion, the final results aren’t out yet, so arguing here is pointless!" Another candidate joined the conversation, stopping everyone’s debate.

Gu Chengyu felt somewhat enlightened. Whether he came in first or second, weren’t they just jealous of the ranking? Thinking he got praised by the Holy Decree, they believed he had just gotten lucky. But didn’t they consider, without his policy answers, would the Holy Decree have been granted? He truly relied on his strength!

"Look! Look! The results are here!" Suddenly, someone shouted, causing a stir among the crowd. All the candidates moved toward the list, surrounding it tightly.

"What are you squeezing for? With everyone pushing, how can we get through?" The constable holding the adhesive was used to such scenes, after experiencing it once every three years.

Among these people, some were about to become scholars, and others might become scholars in the future. They couldn’t exert force to stop them. If there were any injuries, those constables couldn’t bear the responsibility!

The constables barely managed to squeeze through the crowd and posted the list on the wall, only to be swarmed by candidates, nearly trapping the two of them inside.

"Young Master, watch me, I’ll squeeze in to have a look!" Ming Mo rolled up his sleeves and prepared to push inside. Although he was quite skilled, he was a bit scared seeing so many frenzied candidates. Don’t underestimate these frail scholars; once they went crazy, no one could withstand them!

Ming Mo closed his eyes and charged through the crowd, ignoring the complaints and cursing, determined to get to the front.

"Huh? He really is the top student!" A startled exclamation came from within the candidates.

"Indeed, then it seems he did quite well!"

"What! Impossible! Why am I not on the list? I clearly matched answers with my senior, the math problems couldn’t be wrong!" A candidate angrily pounded the wall, frustrated.

"It truly can’t be! How could my ranking be so low? I also completed the poem!"

The announcement of the list sparked voices of doubt among the crowd. Gu Chengyu pondered a bit; perhaps it was due to the two math problems. Dayan valued literary talent, but this time there was an additional math problem, and it was more difficult, resulting in more errors.

Another factor was the poetry; few people knew the sources, and without knowing the original meaning, they could easily go off-topic. No matter how good the writing, if you missed the topic, it was still wrong.

As for him getting the top spot, he wasn’t surprised at all. He could guarantee his math problems and test poetry were correct. Whether the poems were well-written, among a crowd of candidates who went off-topic, it wasn’t so important.