Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 253 - 89: The Eye for Recognizing Gems

This time, Ming Mo came quickly; he only needed to look at the rankings of the other three in the exam, and Gu Chengyu had already claimed the top spot.

"Young Master! You’re the top scorer again!" Ming Mo had been jostling around inside, aggravating the crowd, and now he shouted out loud with such a big smile that other examinees couldn’t help but find it irritating, as if he were stabbing them in the heart.

"Ming Mo, what about us? Did we pass?" He Shunian didn’t care about being top scorer; he only cared whether he passed.

"I didn’t see Mr. He’s name; Mr. Ye ranked tenth, and Mr. Sun ranked thirty-fourth." Ming Mo reported the others’ ranks, reining in his smile as he stood behind Gu Chengyu.

"I passed? I thought I wouldn’t make it this time!" Sun Xian was immensely relieved; he wouldn’t have to wait three years to retake the exam. Though his rank was low, he was still a scholar, which gave him some confidence to marry Gu Wan.

Silver’s family background was solid, his brother-in-law was also a scholar, and who knew, three years later he might even pass the official exam. His family was poor; if he didn’t strive harder, he’d fall too far behind, and he would be ashamed.

He Shunian heard Ming Mo’s words and slumped to the ground. As expected, among the four, he alone did not pass. Gu Chengyu didn’t know how to comfort him; it wasn’t appropriate for him to step forward and say anything—otherwise, it would be seen as showing off.

Ye Zhiqiu also hadn’t expected to rank tenth this time; he couldn’t help feeling glad that he had borrowed Gu Chengyu’s books. The poem test question was one that he knew the source of only from Gu Chengyu’s books; otherwise, he surely would have veered off-topic.

Getting tenth place wasn’t bad; at the very least, he was a Scholar, ensuring a monthly stipend of one liang of silver, lightening the load on his family and sister. This time when he came, he had thickly borrowed some silver from the clan; they also found it difficult. If he failed to pass the exam, he didn’t know if he’d have another chance.

"I actually made it onto the list this time?" one of the candidates exclaimed wild with joy; he had taken the exam four times already. If he hadn’t passed this time, his family would no longer support him—but now, unexpectedly, he had become a scholar; he cried out to heaven and even shed tears.

Having learned their rankings, Gu Chengyu and the others planned to return to the inn. At this time, two candidates, also students at Mr. Wen’s private school, approached them. They had previously failed the academy exam and were here to try again. As Gu Chengyu and his friends formed a group of five, they hadn’t partnered with them for mutual protection.

"Greetings, two senior brothers!" Gu Chengyu and the others exchanged salutations with the two.

The two had come only to exchange some pleasantries, as they weren’t familiar with each other anymore; they were no longer attending Mr. Wen’s school and hadn’t traveled with Gu Chengyu and his friends for the exam, nor were they staying at the same inn.

"I suppose our junior brothers all passed, right? Let me congratulate you. I’m ashamed to say I failed for the second time and have let our teacher down." They spoke with a sense of loss, having come to take the academy exam for the second time.

It was simply unfortunate for them; who could have predicted there would be two math questions and a poem test question that was difficult for the examiners to appreciate?

"Alas! Time and fate!" the two senior brothers sighed, knowing they’d have to try again in three years, uncertain when they’d finally pass as scholars.

Gu Chengyu and his friends consoled the two briefly; He Shunian laughed bitterly, acknowledging his own failure. The group arranged to have a meal together later, although Gu Chengyu and his friends had to attend the banquet held by Prefect Jiang, necessitating a return the next day.

This was customary; after every academy exam, Prefect Jiang hosted a feast for the newly ranked scholars.

"Then I’ll return with you two senior brothers tomorrow!" Sun Xian decided to stay the day there. He felt uncomfortable lingering, especially since the inn’s room cost was quite steep—eight hundred wen per night! He was sharing with Ye Zhiqiu, but even four hundred wen a night was considerable.

"That’s great; more company on the road," the two were delighted. On the trip back, they’d call for a cart, splitting the cost among the three—a significant reduction from the norm.

"I’ll have Ming Mo take you back today!" Gu Chengyu had arrived by horse cart and felt obliged to offer; he couldn’t let people think he was stingy. Actually, he was generous with friends and family.

He also considered He Shunian’s situation; although He harbored some small thoughts, such thoughts were normal, and in addition, his direct way of speaking suggested he was still worth befriending!

"That’s very thoughtful of you, Junior Brother Gu; we’ll leave after dinner today, thanks to your fortune!" This senior brother knew Gu Chengyu’s family was wealthy, so arriving by horse cart wasn’t unexpected; returning that way was fast and saved money.

Originally, He Shunian intended to decline; he knew Ming Mo was busy assisting Gu Chengyu and didn’t want to take too much advantage, especially when Gu had already shown considerable care during these days.

Nevertheless, the two hadn’t waited for his decline before agreeing. He Shunian could only smile apologetically at Gu Chengyu, aware that the courtesy was due to his relationship with Gu.

Gu Chengyu didn’t mind; he simply felt the two enjoyed taking advantage. Ancient exams weren’t easy, and study-related expenses were hefty, so some thriftiness was understandable, especially among average farming families.

Meanwhile, as they were chatting, the other candidates had rushed to another side, where the exam papers were being posted.

"Look quickly! The top scorer’s paper is posted; let’s go see why we didn’t make it!" Being the top paper, the answers must be correct, motivating failed candidates to see why they weren’t on the list.

Gu Chengyu and the others noticed the commotion for the first time, "Turns out the papers are posted! Let’s go admire Junior Brother Gu’s work!" The two senior brothers joined the bustling crowd.

Sun Xian and the others also wanted to check it out; Gu Chengyu was pulled in by them, preparing to go together. However, he broke free; viewing his own exam paper felt peculiar, so he opted to wait under the tree.

"Ah? No wonder! I got the math wrong—how can anyone figure out this answer?" A few candidates lamented and cried, realizing they had completely missed the two math questions and thus couldn’t be ranked.

"You think just the math was wrong? Damn, even my poem test was off! Look! It mentions the opening and closing strands; I thought it was about moonlight, but checked it out—it wandered way off-topic!" Upon seeing it, the candidate realized he hadn’t been wronged in failing!

"Still not reading enough!" The other candidates saw it and sighed in awe, admitting their own inferiority!

"This poem truly is excellent! It seems they’ll add it to the poetry book! Junior Brother Gu is gaining quite a reputation this time!"

"We are truly ashamed; Junior Brother Gu’s talent is admirable! The Holy Emperor truly has a discerning eye!" This candidate deftly praised the Holy Emperor, just like the line "Huiming in twenty-eight years" in Gu Chengyu’s poem!