"Big brother, your eyesight is better, quickly see if you passed!" Yun Jinshan tilted his head, staring at the榜单 (bǎngdān - list of successful candidates) above the academy gate, his eyes growing blurry.
Ever since their little aunt was found, Yun Jinhe had returned to the academy and participated in the provincial examination held in the county town...
The chief examiner was Prefect Chen.
Today was the day the results were posted, and the brothers had rushed to see the outcome after waking up.
There were three to four hundred students participating in the examination, most of them from the county town and surrounding villages...
If Yun Jinhe took the top spot, he would become a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the imperial examinations at the county level).
Furthermore, he would have to go to the prefectural city to study and prepare for the Xiangshi (provincial examination). If he passed that, Yun Jinhe would be a Juren (a scholar who passed the provincial examinations).
"I didn't see it. It doesn't seem to have my name on it..." Yun Jinhe scratched his face.
He was actually quite confident about this examination. He had studied diligently every day, and the questions weren't that difficult.
Previously, his essay had even received high praise from Prefect Chen, who commented that the writing had a rustic charm and could represent the voice of the common people.
Yun Jinshan was even more anxious than his elder brother. He stomped his foot, "How could it not be there? Oh, honestly, it's impossible not to pass. The person who posted the list must have made a mistake..."
His elder brother studied so hard, with single-minded focus, far stronger than himself, yet his name wasn't even on the list of those who failed.
Next spring, Yun Jinshan would be taking the Tong Sheng (preliminary examination for scholars). He had no confidence in his mediocre abilities. If only his elder brother could pass, it would be enough.
Yun Jinhe felt a bit dejected. He scanned the list again, then turned around and said, "Jinshan, don't look anymore. If I didn't pass, I didn't pass. It seems I'm truly not cut out for scholarly pursuits. Let's pack up our things and return to the village to help Grandpa farm..."
The monthly tuition fees were already a considerable amount, not to mention the expenses for food, lodging, and stationery. These things were almost bending the backs of his family members.
"Oh, Big Brother, what are you talking about!" Yun Jinshan tugged at him. "Let's go, I'll take you to see Dean Wei and see if the person who posted the list made a mistake!"
At the very least, his elder brother should have been in the top ten of those who failed, not outright failed...
Just as the brothers were about to leave, a thin scholar suddenly exclaimed, "Wow, who is Yun Jinhe? Huh? He actually took the top spot!~"
Yun Jinshan: "???"
Yun Jinhe: "???"
What was going on? The, the top spot?
The brothers had been looking at the middle and lower sections of the list, and hadn't even glanced at who the top three were...
Upon hearing the exclamation, the brothers abruptly turned their heads and looked at the position of the top scorer.
Good heavens, on the bright red list, wasn't the person ranked first Yun Jinhe?
Who the second and third place were no longer mattered.
"B-Big Brother, sob, you have it, no, you passed, haha, you are now a Xiucai, sob!~"
Yun Jinshan cried and laughed, shaking Yun Jinhe's arm vigorously.
Everyone else also turned to look at Yun Jinhe.
This thin, delicate, and handsome young man had actually achieved first place in the examination...
In the subsequent provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations, wouldn't he continue to win?
Oh my, this young man was extraordinary. He looked like he came from a humble background, yet achieved such excellent results. His future was boundless.
Yun Jinhe's lips trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Grandpa, Grandma, Mother, Father, your son has brought you honor...
It was not in vain that Father sent him food and drinks every few days, and his little aunt also visited them often. If he didn't achieve a scholarly title, how could he face returning to the village...
Yun Jinhe wiped away his tears and pulled Yun Jinshan out of the crowd.
"Big Brother, Big Brother, where are you going?" Yun Jinshan ran after him.
"Back to the village!~" Yun Jinhe's voice was a little choked.
He wanted to be the first to tell his little aunt the news...
"Hey, hey, Big Brother, wait a moment!" Yun Jinhe grabbed Yun Jinshan. "You forgot, tomorrow is Little Aunt's birthday. We can't go back empty-handed!~"
Yun Jinhe had been so overwhelmed with joy that he had forgotten about this.
He patted his pocket, then squeezed his sleeve, and after a long time, managed to pull out ten copper coins.
Adding Yun Jinshan's six copper coins, what could this little bit of money do?
"I was thinking of buying Little Aunt a hairpin and a hair tie, but it seems this money isn't enough!~" Yun Jinhe said helplessly.
Yun Jinshan looked around and saw a vendor selling Jianbing Guozi (savory crepes) passing by with a shoulder pole. He smiled foolishly, "Little Aunt likes Jianbing Guozi, so let's buy a few for her..."
He knew his little aunt wouldn't be picky with them.
Jianbing Guozi cost three copper coins each. With sixteen copper coins, they could buy five, which was enough for his little aunt to eat.
"Okay, then Jianbing Guozi it is!~" Yun Jinhe jingled the copper coins in his hand and walked towards the small vendor.
Unexpectedly, Liu Cuijin appeared out of nowhere. She blocked Yun Jinhe's path and said with a playful grin, "Jinhe, congratulations on passing the Xiucai examination!~"
Yun Jinhe: "......"
This person came to find him every few days, like a piece of sticky plaster. Just looking at her was annoying.
"What do you want this time?" Yun Jinhe's handsome face darkened, and he took a step back.
Yun Jinshan also frowned and stared at Liu Cuijin. Father had already divorced their mother, so this person was no longer a relative of their family...
Liu Cuijin pursed her bright red lips and pulled Yun Jinhe aside. "Oh, why are you so fierce? I came as soon as the results were posted at the academy this morning. You're truly promising, getting first place. If your parents knew, they'd be so happy!~"
Liu Cuijin had decided she wanted to be Yun Jinhe's wife...
After all, her age wasn't awkward. Jinshan was fifteen, and she was twenty-one. A six-year age difference wouldn't show much.
"Hey, can you stop bothering my big brother? Aren't you ashamed of yourself!" Yun Jinshan shouted.
Liu Cuijin shot him a glance and shoved a parcel into Yun Jinhe's hand. "Eat this, freshly steamed meat buns, with minced chicken breast filling. They're so fragrant!"
Yun Jinhe: "......"
I don't want to talk to you!
He returned the parcel to Liu Cuijin. "Jinshan, let's go!~"
Hmph, a weasel paying respects to a chicken, with no good intentions.
Yun Jinhe had already experienced a growth spurt at this age. Although he wasn't as tall as Yun Erman, he wasn't short either...
He wore a white scholar's robe, and his presence in the crowd attracted the attention of many young girls.
The age of flowing white robes was the most beautiful and innocent, but Yun Jinhe didn't have time for romance now. He wanted to study diligently, and after becoming a Juren, he wanted to take the Gongshi (metropolitan examination).
If he could pass that, he would go to the capital for the Dianshi (palace examination). Even if he didn't become the Zhuangyuan (top scholar), Bangyan (second place), or Tanhua (third place), as long as he passed the examination, he could stay in the capital and become an official...
At the very least, he would be at the level of the Hanlin Academy or the Imperial College.
"You two, wait a moment!" Liu Cuijin chased after them again.