Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds
Chapter 43. Reform Destiny (Request for continued reading)

Chapter 43: 43. Reform Destiny (Request for continued reading)

[Wenchang (Red): Latent literary talent, becoming exceptionally clever and articulate in literary studies, dreaming of wielding a Lively Flower Wondrous Pen, composing flawlessly and rapidly, akin to the Yima Seven Papers feat.]

[Reform (Red): Overthrowing the old to establish the new, sweeping away the accumulated malpractices of generations, making it easy to attract the ruler’s favor.]

These two Fates manifested in Xu Xing’s mind.

The first Red Fate, [Wenchang], was one thing; Xu Xing could see that the upgraded [Wenchang] Fate would enhance his literary comprehension and inspiration for writing.

It now included two more descriptive phrases than before: "Lively Flower Wondrous Pen" and "Yima Seven Papers."

The White Destiny, [Wenchang], had already benefited him greatly in this Prefecture Exam.

If not for it, given his previous mediocre talent, securing the first place in the Prefecture Exam and becoming the Top Scholar in Prefecture Exam would have been far from easy.

Even though becoming the Top Scholar in Prefecture Exam involved his numerous considerations, calculations, and conforming to the superiors’ wishes...

But—

Clearly, if his eight-legged essay hadn’t been sufficiently brilliant and eloquent, the examiner wouldn’t have ranked his paper first.

Throughout the generations, many great poets and lyricists struggled to succeed in the Imperial Examinations. However, this didn’t mean that the civil officials who did pass were intellectually inferior to these frustrated literary geniuses. They were simply on different paths; it only seemed that these officials became ordinary after assuming their posts.

"The ’Zagua’ (Miscellaneous Hexagrams) of the *I Ching* states: ’Ge (Revolution) means to discard the old; Ding (the Cauldron) means to adopt the new.’"

This Red Fate [Reform]...

Xu Xing mulled over the description of the Red Fate [Reform].

If he wasn’t mistaken, the reason he had condensed the [Reform] Fate was likely due to his conforming to the higher-ups’ intentions, leading the high officials of Jingzhao Prefecture to perceive him as part of the Reform School.

Indeed, his background from Weijing Academy inextricably linked him to the Reform School by origin.

The eight-legged essay he wrote for the Imperial Examination could also be seen as his pledge to "join" the Reform School.

The high officials of Jingzhao Prefecture needed this political display to curry favor with the "Reform School" holding power in the Imperial Court.

But this is perfect...

Now that I’m about to join the Mount Siming faction in Reality, having this [Reform] Fate will be perfect for my endeavors. It will also make the King of Sorrow look upon me more favorably.

Xu Xing mused with feeling.

He had been worrying about how to initially gain the King of Sorrow’s trust.

Unexpectedly, the newly condensed [Reform] Fate provided a pleasant surprise. As long as he helped Mount Siming innovate and eradicate its deep-seated problems, he would more easily earn the King of Sorrow’s esteem.

This Fate had arrived at precisely the right moment.

"Congratulations, Brother Xu!"

"Brother Xu has topped the Prefecture Exam this time! In a few more months, we’ll have to start addressing you as Scholar Xu."

After the results were announced, Chen Jian’an invited some classmates from Weijing Academy to the Huaiyuan Inn to congratulate Xu Xing.

Examinees who passed the Prefecture Exam gained a quasi-academic title—Child Student.

Child Students were exempt from the County and Prefecture Exams, qualifying them to participate directly in the Academy Exam. However, they did not receive stipends like grain or silver, nor were they exempt from corvée labor or other such societal privileges.

Meanwhile, examinees who passed the Academy Exam automatically gained the title of Scholar.

Xu Xing was the Top Scholar in Prefecture Exam.

According to convention, once he entered the Academy Exam, the Academician presiding over it would typically not fail the top scholar of a prefecture, out of consideration for the Prefect’s reputation.

Dismissing a Prefect’s handpicked Top Scholar in the Prefecture Exam would signify a public falling out between the Prefect and the Academician, effectively negating the Prefect’s achievements in promoting education during his tenure.

Essentially, Xu Xing was already a de facto Scholar.

Furthermore, because Jingzhao Prefecture was the most prosperous area in Qin Province, becoming its Top Scholar in Prefecture Exam also meant he had a very high chance of competing for the top position in the Academy Exam.

Although the Academy Exam was the next level after the Prefecture Exam, Child Students who passed in other prefectures were not necessarily more capable than examinees from the provincial capital who had failed the Prefecture Exam. The difference in educational resources was quite significant.

"Just luck..."

"Purely a stroke of luck."

Xu Xing smiled, clasping his hands in salute to each person who came to offer congratulations.

After a brief exchange of words, he personally hosted a banquet at the inn for these fellow scholars.

Although none of these classmates had achieved the glory of becoming the top scholar like him, a good number had obtained the Child Student qualification. This included the seemingly sickly Li Mingda, whose trip for this Prefecture Exam was not in vain, as he just barely made the list.

To "fall short of Sun Mountain" was an idiom for failing the exam, as Sun Mountain was the name of the last person on the list of successful candidates. Therefore, to "be on Sun Mountain’s list" meant to have passed, albeit as the very last one.

「Shaoqing, at the Huaiyuan Inn.」

Inside the box, after the celebratory gathering ended, the classmates departed one by one.

"Brother Xu..."

"You’ve incurred an expense. Let me go downstairs and settle the bill," Chen Jian’an said gallantly, standing up first and patting Xu Xing’s shoulder.

He was somewhat aware of Xu Xing’s impoverished background and lack of funds. Although Xu Xing had received some financial support from merchants while studying at the academy, he was often financially strained.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you."

Xu Xing hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

With his experience, he discerned Chen Jian’an’s subtle intention at a glance. Having invited so many classmates to congratulate him, Xu Xing, as the host, couldn’t let them come and offer gifts for nothing; he had to treat them.

And as the host... given his apparent financial situation, it would be difficult for him to bear the cost.

As expected of a merchant’s son, he thought, shaking his head after Chen Jian’an left the box.

However, Xu Xing wasn’t inclined to expose Chen Jian’an’s ploy.

When Xu Xing was in humble circumstances at the academy, Chen Jian’an had often helped him. Although Chen Jian’an was quite shrewd, Xu Xing believed in judging by intentions rather than actions—by that measure, there were no perfectly "good" people in the world. Besides, he himself was even more calculating than Chen Jian’an.

In the future, when he had the means, he would repay this kindness by helping the Chen Family and Chen Jian’an. There was no need to dwell on it.

However, Chen Jian’an had barely taken a few steps out of the box when he was stopped by the inn’s elderly proprietor.

"For Top Scholar Xu to stay at the Huaiyuan Inn is our honor."

"For today’s meal, please do us the honor of allowing our inn to cover the expenses..."

Behind the elderly proprietor, an imposing young man slowly emerged from the stairwell, clasped his hands towards Xu Xing, and spoke these words.

This young man’s attire seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one could see that the fabric was of fine quality, not common material.

"I am Wu Huaiyuan."

"The young master of Wu’s Trading Company..."

The imposing young man stated his identity.

"Young Master Wu?"

Chen Jian’an raised his eyebrows, greatly surprised.

"No wonder..."

He shrugged.

Wu’s Trading Company was renowned in Qin Province. For one thing, the mere fact that the head of this trading company was a woman was enough to make it a popular topic of conversation.

Moreover, this woman had become the wealthiest individual in Qin Province.

Zhou Ying’s son?

Upon hearing this, Xu Xing couldn’t help but scrutinize Wu Huaiyuan a little more.

In the region of Qin Province, during the late Qing Dynasty, one couldn’t discuss wealth without mentioning the top female tycoon, Zhou Ying. After Empress Dowager Cixi fled to Chang’an, Zhou Ying donated one hundred thousand taels of silver, becoming Cixi’s goddaughter and subsequently being conferred the title of a First-Class Wife.

Of course, at this point in time, Empress Dowager Cixi had not yet fled westward.

Nevertheless, Zhou Ying was already a household name in Qin Province.

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