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“No need to go,” Song Jingyun said.
“Why not?” Jiang Mixia asked, just as she overheard a group of students whispering after checking the exam results.
“Who got the top score in this provincial exam?”
“It seems like someone named Song Jingyun.”
“I’ve never heard of this name before. Do you know which academy in the city he’s from?”
“I’m not sure, probably not a local academy in the city…”
“See, I told you we don’t need to go,” Song Jingyun said, raising his chin confidently.
Jiang Mixia was left speechless.
Her young husband seemed quite self-assured.
With his exceptional memory, such confidence was well-deserved and reflected his strength.
Song Jingyun’s achievement as the top scorer in the provincial exam seemed to have given him wings, as he swiftly traveled from the capital city to the county town, then to the Hongle Academy in the town, and even back to Jiang’s village.
The entire village of Jiang’s family was filled with joy and pride, walking with lifted heads and eyes gazing towards the sky.
He was the top scorer in the provincial exam.
First place.
The top scorer in the entire Taisong Prefecture!
Even though Song Jingyun had just passed the provincial exam and was still a student scholar, achieving this title after only half a year of studying was remarkable. Being the top scorer set a high standard for future achievements.
The future of Jiang’s village looked promising!
As the saying goes, “When one person achieves success, the whole family benefits.” With the village producing a top scorer, even if Song Jingyun did not actively support the village in the future, his reputation alone would be enough to earn respect and prevent any mistreatment or bullying towards Jiang’s village.
In any case, it’s all good news!
The people of Jiang’s village were happy, and Jiang Zhengxin, the head of the Jiang family, was even more delighted.
However, amidst the joy, they didn’t forget to remind the villagers not to boast or overly praise Song Jingyun in public. They understood the risks of speaking too highly of someone and potentially causing jealousy or resentment.
After all, boasting in front of others can lead to negative consequences.
Moreover, in the past, there were individuals in Jiang’s village who, after achieving a bit of success and receiving excessive praise, became arrogant and complacent, thinking they were exceptional without putting in further effort. This attitude led to a lack of progress and achievements in the long run, fading into obscurity.
Many times, words can be dangerous—not only negative rumors but also excessive praises.
Jiang Zhengxin was determined not to let such a situation happen again in Jiang’s village.
The villagers of Jiang’s village were mostly reasonable and understanding individuals, grasping Jiang Zhengxin’s intentions and the underlying wisdom, with many expressing their commitment to remembering these principles.
As a result, when Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun returned to Jiang’s village, there was no excessive false praise. Instead, simple congratulations were offered. Those with closer relationships brought gifts of poultry, fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits to show their sincere congratulations.
Despite attempts to keep things simple, the sheer number of well-wishers in the village and their genuine congratulations led to a courtyard filled with gifts at Jiang Mixia’s home over the past few days.
The second wife’s family was envious to the extreme.
Zhang shi furiously stomped her feet, while Jiang shi sighed repeatedly at the sight of the gifts piling up in the courtyard.
They had hoped for Jiang Chunbao to pass the scholar exam and have a scholar in the family, but this time, Jiang Chunbao’s name was nowhere to be found on the list.
Jiang Chunbao shrugged, “Studying isn’t easy. Many people can’t even pass the county-level exams. How many scholars can our villages produce combined?”
“But look at Song Jingyun, passing as a scholar, and even ranking first! He’s only been studying for a few days. How many days have you been studying? It’s embarrassing!” his brother Jiang Chunhe retorted.
Jiang Chunhe was already displeased with Jiang Chunbao’s constant studying without contributing to the household income, but Jiang Chunbao’s talent for drawing made it difficult for him to argue back.
With Jiang Chunbao failing to pass the exam, Jiang Chunhe seized the opportunity to mock him. His words came out like a rapid-fire stream, hitting Jiang Chunbao with remarks like pouring beans out of a bamboo tube, “I don’t think you’re cut out for studying. You’ve taken the provincial exam without success. Maybe it’s best to stop studying and come back home to work in the fields. It would save the family money.”
“What are you saying, big brother? Studying is a long-term commitment. If you don’t pass the first time, you don’t just give up. How could that be acceptable?” Jiang Chunbao, feeling desperate at the thought of not being allowed to continue studying, responded, “I’ve heard that many successful scholars had to take the scholar exam multiple times before succeeding. Persistence is key. Giving up easily would hinder any future prospects.”
Jiang Chunhe scoffed, “But what if you keep trying and still don’t pass? Wouldn’t that be a waste of money? We have bills to pay, weddings to plan, new houses to build—everything costs money. I believe the money saved up would be better spent elsewhere.”
“Even if you pass as a scholar next year, or even as a graduate, it would still require a significant amount of money. If you do succeed, you’d only be a poor scholar. If you don’t, it’s all been for nothing.”
“We’ve toiled in the fields to earn money to support your education, and if it all leads to nothing, I won’t be able to bear it!”
“In my opinion, you should consider quitting sooner rather than later to avoid regrets down the line.”
Jiang Chunbao was left speechless after Jiang Chunhe’s barrage of criticism.
Zhang shi nodded in agreement like a pecking chicken, “I think eldest brother is right. We’ve already spent five taels of silver on this provincial exam, and if we continue like this in the future, it’ll be hard to sustain. Perhaps it’s better not to spend this money on exams anymore. Let’s prioritize building a new house early and arranging a marriage for the second son. That’s what truly matters.”
“Nonsense!” Jiang Youcai, who had been silent until now, suddenly exclaimed, “There’s no logic in stopping halfway through an education. Just because you didn’t pass once doesn’t mean you should stop studying. What kind of reasoning is that?”
“Father is right,” Jiang Chunbao hastily agreed, “Father, rest assured, I will study diligently this time, and I will pass next year!”
He sighed, “Actually, this year’s performance was affected by the foot injury that forced me to take two months off. Also, during the trip to the capital city, I was worried about the family’s hard-earned money, so I hesitated to spend on a decent inn, ended up sharing accommodations with others, didn’t have enough to eat, and couldn’t sleep well at night. All these factors affected my exam performance…”
In essence, he was subtly blaming the family for providing insufficient funds.
Jiang Chunhe’s mouth twitched almost involuntarily, his eyes rolling as he asked, “Tell me, how many students from your academy went to the provincial exam this year?”
“Including me, a total of nine,” Jiang Chunbao replied truthfully.
“And how many passed?” Jiang Chunhe inquired.
Jiang Chunbao hesitated for a moment before responding, “Eight…”
So, Jiang Chunbao was the only one who didn’t pass.
Jiang Chunhe couldn’t help but smirk, a hint of a smile appearing on his face, “Hongle Academy is indeed remarkable. The two teachers are capable. Nine students went for the exam, and eight became scholar candidates, with one even ranking first.”