Chapter 101

After Wei Xi and Mei Ruochu left, Wei Shu, who would be taking the provincial exam in just over two months, immersed himself in his room, the “Mock Exam Room.”

So engrossed that he didn’t even come out to eat, instead asking Shen Cui to leave some food outside his door.

The provincial exam was much harder than the county and prefectural exams. According to the data analysis provided by the system, the acceptance rate for scholars was less than one-tenth each year.

So it’s no wonder Wei Shu took it so seriously. He developed in all aspects, and Shen Cui went along with him.

Seeing Wei Shu working so hard, Mu Er Pang also became more diligent. Previously, Lao Buyu taught two grades, but now that the “senior grades” were preparing for exams, he could devote all his time to Mu Er Pang.

Mu Er Pang had been studying for these past few years but hadn’t yet learned the most profound book, the “Book of Changes.”

He would finish studying it next spring and then go back to review everything from start to finish, checking for any gaps in his learning.

Mu Er Pang didn’t know that his time in the academy could be doubled, with a daytime’s worth of time equaling two days.

He only felt that time was running out, and he reduced his sleeping time by half an hour.

Before Mei Ruochu went to the prefectural city, he had already organized the teaching materials for the “Book of Changes” and handed them to Lao Buyu.

Both the teacher and the student found this kind of education, similar to modern education, novel and interesting.

They didn’t even leave their desks for breaks or meals, teaching and learning, completely immersed and unaware of the passage of time.

The children became more and more independent, and Shen Cui didn’t interfere. She only closely monitored their data panels, afraid that they would study too hard and harm their bodies.

But it was quite funny to think that in modern times, teachers were afraid that students wouldn’t be attentive or diligent enough.

Here, however, the atmosphere in the academy was too good. Shen Cui wasn’t afraid that they wouldn’t study, but rather that they would study too much and affect their health or mood.

Fortunately, this situation did not occur.

The academy was always lively. Apart from the others, the big table where they ate, was always full.

Nowadays, only Shen Cui and Zhou Shi could sit together and eat slowly.

Zhou Shi had been more worried lately, and her health had dropped by one point. Shen Cui couldn’t just sit idly by.

When there were only the two of them left at the table, Shen Cui asked, “You haven’t looked good these days. Are you still worried about Yunchuan?”

Zhou Shi didn’t want to trouble Shen Cui with her own affairs. Although studying was the students’ business, Shen Cui, as the Academy Headmaster, was also a her companion in studying, doing needlework, and cooking, taking care of every detail in household just like the students in academy.

Since Shen Cui asked, Zhou Shi didn’t hide anything and said, “My husband will participate in the exam this year. Of course, I’m not worried about his talent. He was able to pass the ‘Three Excellent Exams’ in a row, so passing the exam this time should not be difficult.”

At this point, Zhou Shi paused, feeling a bit embarrassed. After staying in the academy for so long, she had learned quite a few words, but compared to any scholar in the academy, she was still the one with the least ink in her belly.

So she didn’t know if her current estimation was too overconfident.

But since it was only Shen Cui listening, and there were no outsiders, she continued, “After passing the exam, he will be a ‘juren’ (successful candidate in the imperial examinations) lord. What will happen next? Will he stay outside to prepare for the exam, or will he go to the capital early to prepare for next year’s provincial exam? If he wants to go to the capital early, will the money he has be enough? I don’t know how far the capital is. I’ve only heard others talk about it. It’s a place where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. How much money will it cost to go there? For the past two years, you’ve been supporting me in food and drink, and I’m not allowed to support back the family. The money I’ve saved is for his trip to the capital. But in the previous communications, my husband always said there was no shortage of money and asked me not to worry. But the more he doesn’t let me worry, the more uneasy I feel… Moreover, if he goes to the capital, it’s really far away, and he might not even be able to send a few letters in a year.”

She spoke for quite a while, and Shen Cui listened patiently.

In the final analysis, it was because they had been separated for too long, and the letters written by Mu Yunchuan back to her were vague, full of embellishments of peace.

Even Zhou Shi, who had always unconditionally trusted him, felt insecure, so she began to think more deeply.

According to the original plot of the book, this was the root of her illness.

But there weren’t many descriptions of her in the original book, so Shen Cui naturally thought it was just a problem of hard work. She thought that if she could help solve this problem, she could sleep soundly.

Now, it seemed that psychological problems were probably part of the reason for her illness.

The cure for a psychological illness required a psychological remedy. Even with the support of the system, Shen Cui couldn’t replace Mu Yunchuan’s sense of security for her.

“I… Did I say too much and bother you?” After rambling on, seeing Shen Cui remain silent, Zhou Shi felt a little annoyed and said, “I really didn’t want to bother you with these things. But…”

But she had really developed a relationship with Shen Cui. And all the big and small matters at home were decided by Shen Cui.

It was as if everything was no longer a problem once it reached her. When Shen Cui asked, she couldn’t hold back.

She was like a child full of grievances, waiting for an adult to help her find a solution.

Shen Cui reached out and patted her hand, comforting her, “I don’t think you’re bothering me, I’m just thinking about what you said. Since you two got married, you’ve been apart most of the time. Of course, he’s studying outside for a good reason. But it’s not a good thing for a married couple to be separated like this. I guess after he passes the township exam, he should come back for a visit. By then, you might as well suggest directly that you accompany him to the capital for the exam.”

“I… I go to the capital?” Zhou Shi was stunned, then quickly denied, “No, how much money do two people need? I’m afraid that the money I’ve saved…”

“As the saying goes, poor scholars become rich successful candidates. After he passes the exam, you don’t have to worry about money.” Leaving aside everything else, Shen Cui was quite confident in Mu Yunchuan’s ability to make money. Of course, not because he was corrupt, but because the higher he went in the exams, the less he needed to hide his talents.

With his talents revealed, his essays and poems attracted other literati. According to the original plot of the book, after he passed all four levels of the exam, he became famous even in the prefecture and county, and then returned to choose a bookseller to cooperate with, starting to publish his own collection of poems and essays and earning his first bucket of gold.

After he passed all six levels of the exam, the collection of poems and essays was sold for a terrifying price, not to mention the countless people who came to ask for his autographs, saying that one character was worth a thousand gold.

It can be said that after the township exam, he would not lack money.

And based on her understanding of Mu Yunchuan, he had been disguising himself since he was young and was actually somewhat cold-hearted.

But towards Zhou Shi, who only had him in her heart and eyes, he was somewhat different from others.

Zhou Shi had already established herself and had no lingering illness. It was time to let her reunite with Mu Yunchuan and resolve the hidden dangers of her psychological problems.

Otherwise, according to the original plot of the book, when Mu Yunchuan became the top scholar and entered the Hanlin Academy, and Zhou Shi went to the capital…

By then, the couple had been separated for too long.

Time had eroded the little love between them, and they lacked the process of mutual understanding and effort.

They would become like strangers again, starting over to cultivate their relationship.

And Zhou Shi couldn’t remarry…

Not to mention that she had been wholeheartedly devoted to Mu Yunchuan all these years. If she divorced him, it would be no different from asking for her own life.

Mu Yunchuan would not allow himself to cause a family crisis after becoming successful and affect his reputation.

So Shen Cui made this proposal.

Zhou Shi still said, “Even if the money is enough, but… but…”

In fact, she didn’t know what the “but” was. Earlier, she had always thought that their separation was temporary, and one day, when her husband achieved results, they would be together.

But she was still afraid, inexplicably afraid, afraid of everything unknown.

Afraid that Mu Yunchuan would refuse, and even more afraid that she was no longer worthy of him.

“Don’t be afraid.” Seeing her hesitation, Shen Cui comforted her gently, “He is studying outside, and you are managing the household affairs, saving money, helping him support his stepmother, and taking care of his younger brother. You are a dignified daughter-in-law of the Mu family, so you have nothing to fear.”

Zhou Shi stared blankly and said she needed to think about it.

But there was still plenty of time left before Mu Yunchuan returned home after passing the township exam, so Shen Cui didn’t force her to make a decision immediately.

…

On the day of the prefectural exam in April, Shen Cui, who had experience, got up before dawn, did some needlework casually, and took the opportunity to observe Wei Xi and Mei Ruochu’s data panels.

When Mei Ruochu’s luck value started to drop by 5 points, followed by an increase of 5 points, Shen Cui guessed that he had probably finished being searched.

As the system said, after experiencing the search, it was time for the candidates to enter the venue, and his luck value dropped by 30 directly.

But fortunately, Mei Ruochu wore a lot of things made by Shen Cui, and he was obedient, wearing all the extra items.

So after dropping by 30, his luck value quickly returned to 80.

The prefectural exam lasted for four days. Mei Ruochu’s luck value fluctuated in the exam room, but with the needlework done by Shen Cui, if it dropped, it could be immediately replenished.

As for Wei Xi, his constitution had already recovered to 70. After staying in the exam booth for four days in a row, he dropped by 2 points, but overall, he was much stronger than before and should not have fallen ill.

After that, Shen Cui couldn’t see much, because both of their moods were quite high. She temporarily considered it as a very smooth exam.

After the results were announced, Wei Xi and Mei Ruochu returned as they were.

As soon as they met, Wei Xi got off the carriage first and said with a gloomy face, “I disappointed the master. I only got the second place in the prefectural exam.”

“Second place is also a very good result. Just do your best!” Shen Cui hurriedly comforted him, while checking his mood value, wondering why his mood had always been very good, and the data in front of her still showed so.

“Junior Brother, don’t be disappointed. Second place is really amazing!”

“Yes, I was only twelfth last year. If you’re not satisfied with second place, what about me, your elder brother?”

Everyone comforted him one after another, and Wei Xi couldn’t hold it back anymore, laughing and saying, “Okay, okay, I won’t pretend anymore. The top spot in the prefectural exam goes to Brother Mei! Losing to him is nothing. Why should I be disappointed?”

No one would doubt Mei Ruochu’s talent. Even Lao Buyu said he couldn’t teach him.

He had not yet achieved a good result, and everyone felt sorry for him.

Now that they heard he had won the top spot in the prefectural exam, they were sincerely happy for him!

Mei Ruochu was about to get off the carriage at this time, but everyone surrounded Wei Xi, who had gotten off the carriage first, and he had nowhere to stand.

Seeing this, Mu Er Pang immediately exaggeratedly extended a chubby arm, “Oh, Master of the Top Spot, be careful, let me help you up!”

His exaggerated manner made Lao Buyu laugh so hard that his stomach hurt. While laughing, he reached out and grabbed Wei Xi’s neck, pinching it hard, “You brat, still know how to tease and joke around, huh?”

Wei Xi quickly begged for mercy, “It was Brother Mei who apologized to me after reading the results, saying he didn’t know he would perform so well this time. If he had known, he wouldn’t have gone out with me at the same time. I said I’m not unhappy, not only me, everyone must be happy too.”

Lao Buyu was so excited that his face was red, and he trembled his lips, “The top spot and the second place… this… this…”

These were the results achieved by the students from their academy who went out to take the exam? It was much better than his results when he passed the exam every time!

He was at a loss for words for a while. If it weren’t for him going to show off in front of Ling Qingming earlier,

Now he was afraid that he would grow wings and fly to Ling Qingming to share the good news!

They laughed and joked, and Shen Cui laughed along, feeling soft-hearted.