The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 938 - 917 Buying Test Papers

Chapter 938: Chapter 917 Buying Test Papers

Manbao and the two Bai siblings Bai Shan and Bai Erlang also stood at the second gate, seeing off the Yang Family people. Mr. Zhuang turned his head and saw them standing motionlessly, so he lightly coughed and said, "Alright, with so many people paving your way, you should also put in a good effort."

The three bowed together and responded in unison before following Mr. Zhuang back to the study to continue their reading.

Manbao had finished her new lesson and recited it several times. After completing her homework, she glanced at the system’s internal clock and feeling it was about time, she stood up, "Teacher, I am going out."

Mr. Zhuang waved his hand, "Go ahead, go ahead."

Bai Shan took a moment from his reading to call out the window, "Daji, please take Manbao."

Daji agreed and went to the front yard to drive the carriage.

Manbao, on the other hand, turned to find a large white sheet of paper and started writing in big letters — Collection of Exam Papers (Imperial Academy and Highest Institute mid-year, end-of-year, and major examination papers).

After she finished writing, Manbao blew on the ink to dry it under the stunned gaze of Mr. Zhuang and then rolled up the paper and was ready to leave, even waving goodbye to him, "Teacher, I’m really leaving now. Shanbao, remember to help me wash the brushes."

It was only then that Bai Shan realized her brush had not been cleaned yet. He was about to object when Manbao had already dashed off.

Bai Shan couldn’t help but grumble, as he detested washing brushes the most.

Manbao slung her small backpack over her shoulders — it was stocked with brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, essentials that might come in handy.

When she arrived at the gates of the Imperial Academy, it was dismissal time and many students were exiting in groups.

Manbao promptly handed the large paper with the writing to Daji, "Quick, hold it up at the gate."

Daji: ...

The two stared at each other for a moment, and Manbao asked, "Is there a problem?"

Daji’s face turned red — from embarrassment! He silently unfolded the big piece of paper and stood opposite the gates of the Imperial Academy.

Manbao nodded in satisfaction, placed her backpack at her feet, and stood contentedly by his side with her arms folded, waiting.

Students trickling out of the academy glanced at the paper Daji was holding and then at Manbao, most walking away, but some stopped to look for a while before they couldn’t resist approaching, fanning themselves, "Young lady, are you collecting exam papers?"

Manbao nodded, "Do you have any?"

The student laughed, "I am a student of the Imperial Academy, how could I not? However, the papers are at home, and it would be too troublesome to fetch them. How about I recite them and you write it down?"

Manbao smiled, "Of course."

She turned and took out paper and a brush from her backpack, smiling at him, "Go ahead and recite."

The student raised his eyebrows, obviously not expecting her to be so well-prepared, and laughed, "No rush, let’s first talk about the price, shall we?"

Manbao said, "One silver coin for a set of exam papers."

"Just one coin?"

"One coin is already a lot," Manbao said. "I’m not asking for your answers, nor did you set the exam, and I’m not even asking you to write it down. You’re spared the cost of ink and paper; to earn one silver coin just by reciting is quite a lot, isn’t it?"

"But these are the Imperial Academy’s papers."

"Yes, so I’m offering one silver coin. If they were from some other academy, I wouldn’t even give ten coins."

The student: ...

Manbao got ready and asked, "Well, are you selling or not?"

After a pause, the student nodded, "I’m selling, listen carefully."

He cleared his throat and then, with hands clasped behind his back, recited, "Kang Ge says: ’to be earnest with virtue.’ Tai Jia says: ’Consider the bright mandate of heaven.’ Emperor’s Code says: ’to earnestly enhance the nobility of virtue.’ All refer to self-enlightenment."

Manbao watched him quietly.

Seeing that Manbao did not start writing, he asked, "Why aren’t you recording? Can’t you write? No worries, I’ll write for you and an additional silver coin for the brush will do."

Manbao dodged his hand and asked, "And what comes next? Is this a policy discussion topic?"

"No, this is a scripture recitation."

Manbao asked with annoyance, "Are you reciting from The Great Learning for the scripture exam?"

The student blinked, "Yes, The Great Learning is regarded as the essence within the Book of Rites, of course, it’s examined."

Manbao thought for a moment and felt that he made sense, so she asked, "Does the Imperial Academy often examine The Great Learning?"

"Well, are you taking notes or not?"

Manbao glanced at him, only wrote the words "The Great Learning" on the paper, and then continued to ask, "Which part of the scriptures do the exam questions mostly come from? All from The Great Learning?"

The student looked at her with a smile, "The teachers all love to select texts from the Book of Rites."

The Book of Rites was quite a thick volume; Bai Shan indeed memorized it, but Bai Erlang probably found it challenging, "Which part of the Book of Rites?"

The student said, "The price is different for that."

Manbao looked at him skeptically and decided to change the subject, "Never mind the scripture exam; what was the policy discussion topic for last year’s end-of-year exam?" That was of paramount importance.

The student blinked and made something up, "Sincerity of intent then means not deceiving oneself. Just that one line."

Manbao chewed on the brush handle and eyed him, before finally asking with doubt, "The scripture exam you gave me, from which year’s end-of-year exam was it?"

"From last year."

Manbao, through gritted teeth, asked, "Does your teacher set both scripture recitation and policy discussion from the same book?"

The student cleared his throat and said, "What’s so odd about that, we just studied The Great Learning."

Manbao looked at him doubtfully, "You’re learning The Great Learning at such an advanced age?"

The student involuntarily touched his cheek and asked, "Do I look that old?"

Other students, who had been holding back their laughter all this while, finally burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Feng Zongping, stop teasing the young lady. Last year’s policy discussion topic at the Imperial Academy was clearly ’Which is stronger, the strength of the South or the strength of the North? To teach with forbearance and not retaliate against injustice is the strength of the South. The gentleman resides in it.’"

Feng Zongping was about to jovially strike back when he caught a glimpse of Manbao quickly writing down the words "The Doctrine of the Mean, Zi Lu asking about strength." He paused and took a more serious look at Manbao, "Young lady, what do you want with these exam papers?"

Manbao replied irritably, "You lied and deceived, no silver coin for you."

Feng Zongping then smiled apologetically, "I did not mean any harm; it was the first time I’ve seen someone collecting exam papers at the gates of the Imperial Academy, so I couldn’t help but be curious. Whose bookshop are you collecting these papers for?"

"I’m collecting them for my Junior Brother; he’s preparing to take the Imperial Academy exam, and I wanted to get him several papers to practice with."

Feng Zongping laughed, "The major exam and our end-of-year exam papers are not the same."

Manbao asked curiously, "How so?"

"Some are much easier, others are harder," he laughed. "After all, we’ve studied at the Imperial Academy for a few years; the papers can’t be easier than the ones given during the major exams, right? Otherwise, wouldn’t it mean there’s no progress after admission?"

"That makes sense, so if your libationer were to set the exam for first-year students, from which book does he prefer to set questions?"

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