Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 114 - 112: The Talent of the Top Scorer?

Chapter 114: Chapter 112: The Talent of the Top Scorer?

"Third Brother, how could you do such a thing? You know well that your elder brother, I am in dire need of silver. Your nephew’s schooling costs a large sum of silver every month, and the grocery store only earns a meager income! Our parents live with us and during the partition of the family property, our household got no farmland. We are already struggling to make ends meet. You dare to open such a large timber shop with an outsider and not collaborate with your own elder brother! When did you develop such a habit of reaching outwards?"

"Elder Brother, he is not an outsider; he’s the maternal uncle of my child."

"Outrageous! He’s not an outsider? Does he bear the surname Shen? You certainly forget your parents after marrying! No wonder Mother always says..."

"Cough, cough... How could you behave so disgracefully!" I was fooled to assist him, to treat him and Wen’er as my own son and grandson, considering his utter disregard for his own family!

Only then did Shen Chengguang remember that his father-in-law was still present, quickly adjusting his tone. "I didn’t mean that he’s an outsider. I meant, you can’t just consider your brother-in-law when partnering to open a shop. You should also think of your own brothers. I don’t mean to bother you for help. I am not the most unfortunate one. I still have my father-in-law to lean on, and my second brother is also partnering with his brother-in-law. But our fourth brother is empty-handed. Moreover, the smithy work is done, so, as his elder brother, you should think about taking care of him."

"Elder brother, you’re correct. I’ll pay attention to this in the future. I will definitely help the fourth brother." Shen Chengyao nodded in agreement.

"That’ll be enough." Shen Chengguang nodded. At that moment, he didn’t dare to speak further. His father-in-law was still present, and he had carelessly upset his father-in-law!

For now, he decided to keep quiet and discuss it later with his own parents. He couldn’t bear the thought of a fat piece of meat being snatched away without having a single bite.

Master Lan was increasingly disappointed with Shen Chengguang but felt helpless. He had no choice but to care for his daughter. Luckily, his grandson was more sensible. Disheartened, he closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep.

Seeing this, neither of them dared to speak, afraid of disturbing Master Lan’s rest.

Shen Chengyao began to brew tea...

In the classroom of the Juxian Academy’s preparatory class’s entrance examination, the students were diligently answering their test papers. An instructor at the podium was reading a poster while another was observing the students’ work.

The instructor came behind Fang Wenri, looked at his test paper, and paused a little longer than usual. He observed as he carefully wrote out the answers. After glancing at the name on the test paper, he subtly nodded.

Then he went to Shen Jinghao, who sat behind Wenri, and took even more time before moving on to Shen Jingrui, who sat behind Jinghao. The impact of these three students nearly overwhelmed him with excitement, but he restrained himself. After checking the remaining students’ test papers, he got an overview and returned to his desk at the podium.

He asked softly, "Where are the introduction letters of Fang Wenri, Shen Jingrui, and Shen Jinghao?"

"You know of them too?" The instructor who had just carefully put three introduction letters into his pocket took out the finely made letters again.

He had to show these letters to the academy’s dean; they were of exceptional importance!

When the other instructor took the letters, the first thing he noticed was the bold and forceful handwriting. It was clear that the recommender was highly learned. When he saw the endorser’s name, he involuntarily shivered!

No wonder!

No wonder!

"It seems we are going to welcome students of top-scorer potential in our academy!" The instructor beside him also shivered, then asked for the three students’ seating positions. He went down and checked their test papers, becoming even more excited.

A veteran of two dynasties and an Imperial Master of an era— the recommendations of Gu Wenyuan are indeed extraordinary!

With that, he hurriedly left the classroom with the letters, rushing to find the academy’s dean.

The students in the front of the classroom naturally noticed the unusual behavior of the two instructors. Only one of them, who sat closest to the podium, overheard fragments of the conversation between the instructors. He was startled by the words "top scorer," almost causing him to lose grip of his pen. He wondered which one of those three was the "top scorer." He decided that he should maintain a good relationship with them in the future.

Two hours later, the examination ended, and the three brothers, Jingrui, were invited to the dean’s study room, where they answered some impromptu questions posed by the dean.

The dean of Juxian Academy, after hearing their answers, nodded and laughed, "Ha-ha, well done! Your answers were splendid! I will instruct you in your policy essays from now on!"

The three brothers felt very delighted and burst into laughter. Then they all became serious again and bowed, "Student pays respect to the teacher!"

The dean of Juxian Academy, with a smile, nodded warmly and said, "Go back, remember to report on time the day after tomorrow!"

Outside the Academy

Shen Jingwen walked out, and Shen Chengguang and Master Lan went up to meet him, "Wen’er, how did you do on the exam this time?"

"The test paper was more difficult this year than before, but I’m still somewhat confident."

Both of them showed a smile on their faces upon hearing this.

Shen Chengyao had been waiting outside the academy for a long time and his three children hadn’t come out yet; he was anxious.

"Wen’er, did you see them in the academy?"

All the other students had left, and no one else was coming out of the academy.

"No!" Shen Jingwen replied quickly. He only overheard someone mentioning their names outside the academy gate, saying something about the master saying one of them had the potential to be a top scorer! Their introduction cards were exceptionally exquisite!

It must be because of that introduction card, or perhaps because the person who recommended them was a former top scorer! They had only studied with Shen Zixuan for a few days before being identified as potential top scorers, who would believe that!

Even though he didn’t believe that any of them could become a top scorer, the misconception that people had about them still irked him. It aggravated him to the point of extreme annoyance. He retorted, "A mere bumpkin from the countryside, a top scorer, bah!"

"Don’t worry too much, the papers from Juxian Academy are notoriously difficult. Maybe your nephews just haven’t finished answering yet, hence the delay!"

"They overestimate themselves! It’s utterly shameful!" Master Lan, too, was growing impatient with waiting. If it wasn’t for Shen Chengyao’s invitation to dine together at "Taste of Xuan" later, he wouldn’t be waiting!

"Could it be that they finished the paper early and left?" Xiao’er also found it strange. It was quite late, but she didn’t believe that Jingrui and the others would have been delayed because they had not finished their paper.

Upon hearing this, Shen Chengguang laughed mockingly.

Shen Chengyao walked to the academy gate and asked an old man on guard, "Sir, before the examination ended, did three boys leave early?"

The old gatekeeper shook his head.

Finally, three little boys came out laughing and joking. Shen Chengyao sighed in relief when he saw them.

"Why are you so late?"

The three of them first greeted everyone, and then Jingrui said, "The master asked us a few questions, so we came out a bit late."

"Father, the master instructed us to report on time the day after tomorrow!" Jinghao announced excitedly.

"So, it means the three of you passed?" Shen Chengyao’s smile became brighter as he finished speaking.

"Yes, Uncle Shen, we all passed," Fang Wenri also happily declared.

The three people nearby were shocked upon hearing this. They actually got admitted and it was directly declared by the dean? Such luck!

It must be that introduction card! Third Uncle went too far, watching him take exams for so many years without asking that person to write an introduction card for him! Even though he was his nephew! Fang Wenri, an outsider, was treated like a son! While he, the blood relative, didn’t receive any help! Shen Jingwen felt a strong sense of injustice in his heart.

"Let’s go, let’s have a feast to celebrate!" Xiao’er said excitedly!

As for how Shen Chengguang and the others were feeling, they didn’t notice; they were just too happy!

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.